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Windhoek, Namibia| The Namibian Government has declined a visa extension request for Ronald Mutebi II, the King of the Buganda tribe of Uganda. King Mutebi II, who traveled to Namibia privately in April for medical treatment, has been recuperating at the Okonguari Psychotherapeutic Centre.
The request for an extension was made by Dr. Daleen de Lange, Executive Director at the Okonguari Psychotherapeutic Centre, in a letter dated July 9 to the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation. However, the request was denied.
Penda Naanda, the Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, cited the Immigration Control Act of 1993, which limits non-Namibians to a maximum stay of 90 days as per Section 9 of the regulations.
“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.
In recent months, Ugandans, especially King Mutebi’s subjects, have staged demonstrations demanding his return to Uganda. In May, protests took place outside the Namibian Diplomatic Mission in the UK, with demonstrators urging the Namibian government to reveal the King’s location, amidst fears of kidnapping.
At that time, the Namibian government redirected the protesters to the Buganda traditional authorities, clarifying that King Mutebi II was on a private visit.
