The Namibian government has disclosed the reasons behind its decision to deny an extension of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi’s visa, citing threats to the safety and security of Namibian diplomatic personnel abroad by certain Ugandan nationals, coupled with the Ugandan government’s silence on the matter.
In a statement released on Friday, the Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security detailed how disruptive actions by some subjects of the Buganda Kingdom interfered with the operations and security of Namibia’s diplomatic missions.
“Some unscrupulous subjects of the Buganda Kingdom started organizing and holding demonstrations at Namibia’s Diplomatic Missions worldwide, demanding Namibia release their King from detention and thereby threatening the security of Namibian diplomatic officials in the process. This is not allowed under international law. It not only put at risk the security of Namibia’s personnel abroad but also greatly interfered with the operations of our diplomatic missions,” the statement read.
The situation escalated when Buganda clan heads (Bataka) traveled to Namibia to visit the ailing Kabaka but were blocked from seeing him and subsequently apprehended and questioned by Namibian police. This incident followed a notification from Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga to the Uganda High Commission in South Africa regarding the Kabaka’s presence in Namibia for medical treatment, requesting that visits be restricted without prior authorization from the Katikkiro’s office.
On May 31, 2024, the High Commission communicated the Kingdom’s request to the Namibian government. Kabaka Mutebi had entered Namibia on April 14, 2024, on a private medical visit, granted a maximum stay of ninety days applicable to non-Namibians. Despite the private nature of his visit, rumors and allegations circulated among some Ugandans that the Kabaka had been kidnapped with Namibian government involvement, demanding his release from alleged detention.
“Such malicious allegations were not only meant to tarnish Namibia’s respected reputation in the eyes of the international community but also to undermine the good bilateral relations between the two countries,” the Namibian government stated.
The Namibian government further revealed that it had engaged the Ugandan government to call the disruptive Ugandans to order, but no action was taken. President Museveni, in a July 11, 2024 letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Gen Jeje Odongo, condemned Ugandan nationals for harassing Namibian Missions abroad, emphasizing that the Ugandan government was not involved in the Kabaka’s presence in Namibia.
“Therefore, by the copies of this letter, I request all Ugandans to stop embarrassing Uganda by opportunistically trying to show how much they are for the Kabaka. Apart from the Kabaka himself, the next level of authorization to visit him could be his family or whoever else he has authorized,” Museveni’s letter read.
The Namibian government concluded that, based on the good bilateral relations between the two countries, the security considerations of its diplomatic staff, and in accordance with international and Namibian immigration laws, it was unable to extend the Kabaka’s visa. The Ugandan government and Buganda Kingdom were thoroughly briefed on the reasons for the non-extension.
