The Namibian government has denied a request to extend the visa of King Mutebi II of Buganda, who has been receiving medical treatment in Namibia since April.
The medical centre housing the king had sought an extension earlier this month. However, the Ministry of International Relations cited Namibian immigration law, which allows foreign citizens a maximum stay of 90 days per year.
This decision follows recent unrest, with Ugandan activists staging protests at Namibian diplomatic missions, reportedly causing friction between the two nations.
The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) quoted a ministry official stating, “Having checked the records, I wish to inform you that the request for an extension is declined.”
The Ugandan envoy in South Africa confirmed Namibian dissatisfaction over the harassment of their diplomatic staff concerning the king’s stay.
Protests had also occurred in May at the Namibian High Commission in the UK, where Ugandan demonstrators demanded transparency about the king’s condition, fearing he had been kidnapped.
Namibia referred the situation to Buganda’s traditional authorities. Two weeks ago, Buganda chiefs travelled to Namibia to verify the king’s health status, igniting diplomatic concerns and a rebuke from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who urged Ugandans to avoid embarrassing the country with opportunistic displays of support for the king.
The delegation, which travelled without official authorization, was briefly detained by Namibian officials.
Despite the king’s prior video message to his subjects about his improving health and imminent return, Namibian officials maintained their stance.
Erastus Hailwa, a foreign relations officer, remarked, “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.”
Uganda has stated it will respect Namibia’s decision, with Foreign Minister Henry Oryem Okello affirming, “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.” He also criticised the influx of people to Namibia, treating it “like a market where they enter as they wish.”
Buganda remains the largest of Uganda’s ancient kingdoms, influential despite lacking political power.
