By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Namibia Denies Visa Extension for Ugandan Monarch
The Namibian government has denied a request to extend the visa of a Ugandan king, who has been receiving medical treatment in the country since April. King Mutebi II of Buganda has been under care for an undisclosed condition, and the center where he has been staying requested a visa extension earlier this month.
In response, the Ministry of International Relations stated that Namibian immigration law allows foreign citizens to stay for a maximum of 90 days per year. This decision follows recent reports of dissatisfaction from authorities regarding protests by Ugandan activists at Namibian diplomatic missions.
A ministry official, quoted by the state broadcaster NBC, confirmed the denial of the extension, saying, "Having checked the records, I wish to inform you that the request for an extension is declined."
The Ugandan envoy in South Africa recently indicated that Namibian authorities were unhappy with the harassment of their diplomatic officials concerning the king’s stay. In May, protests occurred at the Namibian High Commission in the UK, where Ugandan demonstrators demanded transparency about the king’s extended stay, suspecting that he might have been kidnapped. The Namibian government subsequently referred the issue to Buganda traditional authorities.
Two weeks ago, Buganda traditional chiefs traveled to Namibia to verify the king’s health, which caused diplomatic concerns and a rebuke from Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni. “I request all Ugandans to stop embarrassing Uganda by opportunistically trying to show how much they are for the Kabaka [king],” President Museveni said. The delegation, which reportedly traveled without the knowledge of either the Buganda kingdom or Ugandan authorities, was briefly detained and questioned by Namibian officials about their authorization to see the monarch.
This visit occurred despite the Buganda king addressing his subjects via a pre recorded video, where he spoke about his improving health and expressed hope for his return soon.
On Wednesday, a state official quoted by the Namibian newspaper stated that it is “normal practice” for a foreign national who has stayed for 90 days to return to their country. “There is nothing controversial about that,” said Erastus Hailwa, a foreign relations officer.
Uganda has stated it will respect Namibia’s decision. Uganda's Foreign Minister Henry Oryem Okello was quoted by the Monitor newspaper, saying, "Namibia has decided that they are not interested in this kind of bad publicity, and we should respect their position. We have to respect their rules and ways of life. Since Kabaka went to Namibia, many people have turned the country into a market where they enter as they wish."
Buganda is the largest of Uganda's four ancient kingdoms, which, although having no political power, remain influential.
