Namibian Government Denies Visa Extension for Buganda King Ronald Mutebi II

Summary

• The Namibian Government denied a visa extension request for King Ronald Mutebi II of Uganda's Buganda Kingdom, who is in Namibia for medical treatment.
• The denial was based on immigration regulations limiting non-Namibian stays to 90 days, as outlined in the Immigration Control Act of 1993.
• The denial has prompted demonstrations by Ugandans, including protests in front of the Namibian Diplomatic Mission in the UK, demanding the King's return and transparency about his medical situation.

Windhoek, Namibia- The Namibian Government has declined the visa extension request for the King of the Buganda Kingdom of Uganda, Ronald Mutebi II.

King Mutebi II travelled to Namibia privately on medical grounds in April and has since been recuperating at the Okonguari Psychotherapeutic Centre.

The Executive Director at the Centre, Dr. Daleen de Lange, requested a visa extension for King Mutebi II in a letter dated July 9 to the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, which was denied.

Penda Naanda, the Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, stated that the immigration regulations made under the Immigration Control Act of 1993 provide for a maximum stay of 90 days for non-Namibians in terms of Section 9.

"Given the above and having checked the records, I wish to inform you that the request for an extension for His Royal Highness Ronald Mutebi II, King of the Buganda Kingdom, is declined'' Naanda stated in his letter to the Centre.

Over the past two months, Ugandans, particularly the subjects of King Mutebi, have led demonstrations demanding the return of the traditional monarch to Uganda.

In May, nationals protested in front of the Namibian Diplomatic Mission in the UK, demanding that the Namibian government disclose information on the King's whereabouts to put to rest suspicions of kidnapping.

The Namibian government, at the time, referred the group to the Buganda traditional authorities since King Mutebi II was on a private visit.