Windhoek, (NAM):- The Government of Namibia has clarified the reasons behind the non-extension of the visa of His Royal Highness Ronald Mutebi II, the King of the Buganda Kingdom amid controversy over the Kabaka’s deportation.
The Kabaka was in April 2024 transferred from Germany to Namibia on a 90-day visa for a private medical visit at a medical facility situated about 700km away from the capital Windhoek. However, his prolonged stay at the facility generated controversy among his subjects, who alleged he was being detained illegally.
In the aftermath of the controversy among Mengo subjects, five clan chiefs boarded to Namibia to see the Kabaka but were preventively arrested in Namibia upon arrival putting Kampala’s diplomatic ties with the country on the brink.
Following the chaos and drama at the embassy in Namibia, authorities in the South African country declined to extend the Kabaka’s visa declaring that he will be allowed to return to Mengo upon the expiration of his current Visa.
In his letter rejecting the request for visa extension of Buganda’s traditional ruler, Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation Executive Director Penda Naanda said that the country’s law on immigration provides for a maximum stay of 90 days for non-Namibians and they will therefore abide by that.
“Given the above and having checked the records, I wish to inform you that the request for an extension for Kabaka Mutebi II is declined,” Naanda said, responding to a request by Okonguari Psychotherapeutic Centre, where the Kabaka is undergoing medical treatment.
Days later, after heightened controversy surrounding the alleged deportation of Kabaka Mutebi, Mr Etienne Maritz, the Executive Director of Migration under Namibia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security, clarified in a two-page statement released on Friday, July 19, the real reasons behind declining the visa extension of the Kabaka.
Mr Ettiene noted that “Some of the unscrupulous subjects of the Buganda Kingdom started organising and having demonstrations at Namibia’s Diplomatic Missions around the world, demanding for Namibia to unconditionally release the Kabaka from detention.”
Despite engaging with Ugandan authorities and the Royal family, Mr Ettiene said the disruptive activities continued prompting Namibia to deny the visa extension based on security considerations and international law, emphasizing that the Ministry has communicated this decision to all relevant parties.
“Their actions threatened the security of Namibian diplomatic officials in the process, which is not allowed under international law. As a sovereign state, we have the right to implement our laws and international law. We cannot extend the King’s visa due to security considerations and the need to maintain order,” Mr Ettiene stated.
“We are unable to extend Kabaka’s visa. We value our relations with Uganda and the Buganda Kingdom but must prioritise our laws and security,” he added, emphasizing that the ministry has been in contact with the King’s Palace, his medical team, and Ugandan authorities, briefing them on the non-extension of his visa.
Below is the detailed statement.
”NON-EXTENSION OF VISA FOR HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS RONALD MUTEBI 11, KING OF THE BUGANDA KINGDOM
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security hereby provides clarity on the non-extension of the Visa of His Royal Highness Ronald Mutebi Il, King of the Buganda Kingdom.
His Royal Highness Ronald Mutebi Il, entered Namibia on 14 April 2024, on a private medical visit and was stationed at an undisclosed location in the country. In terms of Section 29 of the Immigration Control Act, 1993 (Act No. 7 of 1993), His Royal Highness was granted a maximum stay of ninety (90) days applicable to non-Namibians.
Whilst the visit of His Royal Highness Mutebi Il was purely private, it generated much controversy with some of his Subjects, who seem not to have been briefed about the travels of His Royal Highness. Subsequently, those subjects then started making allegations that His Royal Highness was being illegally detained in Namibia, that the Namibian Government conspired with the Ugandan authorities in abducting His Royal Highness, and thus demanded his unconditional release from detention in Namibia.
Some of the unscrupulous Subjects of the Buganda Kingdom started organising and having demonstrations at Namibia’s Diplomatic Missions around the world, demanding for Namibia to release
their King from detention and thereby threatening the security of Namibian diplomatic officials in the process, which is not allowed under international law. This did not only put at risk the security of Namibia’s personnel abroad but interfered greatly with the operations and security of Namibia’s diplomatic missions.
Such malicious allegations were not only meant to tarnish Namibia’s respected reputation and standing in the eyes of the international community, but were also meant to undermine the good bilateral relations that exist between the two countries.
The Government of the Republic of Namibia explained that the visit of His Royal Highness was purely private, and did not have an intention to interfere with his medical visit. Furthermore, since these unscrupulous elements started disrupting the operations at our Diplomatic Missions, Namibia engaged the Ugandan authorities as well as the Royal family and expected them to call these unscrupulous elements to order. Nevertheless, their disruptive activities continued unabated.
As such, based on the good bilateral relations between the two countries and peoples, the security considerations of our diplomatic staff, in line with Namibia’s laws, and in accordance with international law, (Immigration Regulations), the Government of the Republic of Namibia is unable to extend the Visa of His Royal Highness Ronald Mutebi Il, King of the Buganda Kingdom.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security through the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation has been in contact with His Royal Highness Mutebi Il’s Palace, his Medical Team in Namibia, as well as with the Ugandan Authorities, and they were thoroughly briefed on the nonextension of the visa and reasons there-off. Namibia is a Sovereign State and has the right to implement the laws of the Republic of Namibia, and international law.
