By Frank Kamuntu
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security clarifies the non-extension of the visa for His Royal Highness Ronald Mutebi II, King of the Buganda Kingdom. King Mutebi entered Namibia on 14 April 2024 for a private medical visit, with a maximum stay of 90 days granted under Section 29 of the Immigration Control Act, 1993.
Despite the private nature of his visit, controversy arose among some of his subjects, leading to allegations of illegal detention and conspiracy. Demonstrations at Namibian diplomatic missions ensued, jeopardizing the security of Namibian officials.
The Namibian Government emphasized the visit’s private nature and engaged with Ugandan authorities and the Royal family. However, the disruptive activities continued, prompting Namibia to deny the visa extension based on security considerations and international law. The Ministry has communicated this decision to all relevant parties.
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 nonextension 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 Kindgom 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 ofthe 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 unsclupulous 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 the 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 ofthe visa and reasons there-off. Namibia is a Sovereign State, and has the right to implement the laws of the Republic ofNamibia, and international law.
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