Kabaka Ronald Mutebi is back home

Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & URN |  Kabaka Ronald Mutebi is back home after spending several months recuperating in Namibia.

The King of Buganda flew back home last night from the Namibian capital of Windhoek and was received by the Katikkiro (Prime Minister) Charles Peter Mayiga, the Nabagereka Sylvia Nagginda and Prince Crispin Jjunju.

His return ends speculation about his state of health, that had sections of disgruntled Baganda demanding that he return home. A section of clan leaders even travelled to Namibia seeking audience with him, that was however denied.

As the result of the complaints, and some demonstrations, the Namibian government last week declined a  visa extension request for the king.

Speaking to the press at Entebbe Airport, Jjunju castigated the behavior of some of the people who demonstrated at different embassies of the Namibian state. Jjunju said those who did this were self-seekers who were motivated by politics.

“We want to thank the government of Namibia for all they have done for the Kabaka and we want to apologize for the indiscipline by some of the self-seekers who turned the Kabaka’s stay in Namibia political,” Jjunju said. He added that although the Kabaka has returned to Uganda he will continue his medical treatment here and asked people to respect his privacy.

The Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga thanked the government of Uganda for ensuring that the Kabaka was offered all the assistance he needed as he stayed in Namibia. Last week, the government of Namibia refused to renew the visa of the Kabaka following demonstrations around its embassies abroad. Demonstrators accused the government of Namibia of working with that of Uganda to allegedly exile the Kabaka.

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

Earlier, President Yoweri Museveni distanced himself from Buganda clan leaders (Bataka) who travelled to Namibia, supposedly to visit the Kabaka.

Omutanda akomyewo mirembe mu nsi ye. Twebaza Katonda amukuumye ate n’okumuzza okwabobwe. Twebaza abasawo, ate n’abaweereza abaatambula ne Nnyinimu. CPM pic.twitter.com/DAbBlrFgvp

— Charles Peter Mayiga (@cpmayiga) July 21, 2024

The Bataka reportedly said President Yoweri Museveni had sponsored their trip, after they raised the matter at their meeting with the President on June 8.

“I have seen a letter…informing me of the indiscipline of some Ugandans vis a vis the Kabaka’s presence in Namibia,” said Museveni in a letter to foreign affairs minister Jeje Odongo titled ‘Preventive arrest of Buganda clan heads in Namibia”

He said in the meeting on June 8th, he had told the Bataka that “we are not aware and nor are we involved in the issue of the HH Kabaka’s presence in Namibia.”

“Therefore, by the copies of this letter, I request all the Ugandans to stop embarrassing Uganda by opportunistically trying to show how much they are for the Kabaka.

He concluded by saying “theses dramas are happening away for our jurisdiction, otherwise, we would have taken action.”