By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The government of Namibia has come out to explain why Kabaka Mwenda Mutebi’s Visa that could have extended his stay in Namibia can’t be extended.
A statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security dated Friday, 19th July, 2024 and titled, “Non-extension of Visa for His Royal Highness Ronald Mutebi II, King of the Buganda Kingdom,” explains circumstances that influenced the Namibian government decision.
The statement attributes the decision by actions of a section of the Kabaka’s subjects that included holding demonstrations in Namibia’s embassies across the world demanding the Namibian government to ‘release’ their King from alleged captivity.
“Whilst the visit of His Royal Highness Ronald Mutebi II was purely private it generated much controversy with some of his subjects, who seem not to have been briefed by the travels of his Royal Highness. Subsequently, those subjects then started making allegations that their King was being illegally detained in Namibia, that the Namibian government conspired with Ugandan authorities in abducting his Royal Highness,” reads the statement in part.
Namibia accuses a section of Kabaka’s subjects of organizing and having demonstrations at Namibia’s Diplomatic Missions around the world demanding for Namibia to release their King from ‘Detention.’
This act Namibia says threatened the security of its Diplomatic officials contravening 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,” says the statement.
Namibia also throws a spat at the Ugandan government authorities and the Royal family in failing to stop this section of Kabaka’s subjects from continuing with their demonstrations against the sovereign state of Namibia.
“As such, based on the good bilateral relations between the two countries and peoples, the security considerations of our Diplomatic staff, …. The government of the Republic of Namibia is unable to extend the Visa of His Royal Highness Ronald Mutebi II, King of the Buganda Kingdom,” it says.
Kabaka Mutebi travelled to Namibia on 14th April, 2024 in a private visit to seek for medical attention in a 90 days Visa meaning it has already expired.
