Entebbe, Uganda – Amidst a swirl of controversy, His Royal Majesty Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has made a triumphant return to his ancestral lands, his dignified presence a stark contrast to the turmoil that surrounded his recent sojourn in Namibia. The Kabaka’s initial 90-day visa, granted upon his arrival in April, had seemed a mere formality, but the Namibian government’s abrupt refusal to extend it from the official expiration of 24th July 2024 and this ignited a firestorm of speculation, with whispers of a sinister plot to abduct the monarch spreading like wildfire. As the dust settles, the Kabaka’s homecoming marks a new chapter in this unfolding saga, one that promises to be steeped in intrigue and drama.
As the night wore on, the anticipation was palpable. As TV10 Gano Mazima we were ready with our team waiting for his arriaval. The Kabaka’s return to Uganda was a momentous occasion, shrouded in secrecy. Ethiopian Airways touched down at Entebbe’s airport just shy of 11 PM, carrying the monarch and an air of intrigue. In a surprise move, only BBS Television, Buganda’s official broadcaster, was granted exclusive access to capture the King’s arrival.
A select coterie of Buganda officials, led by the esteemed Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, The Nabagereka, Prince Junju, and Omunbejja Nkinzi among others, the welcomed the Kabaka with reverence. By his side was a mysterious lady doctor, her identity unknown, who had been tending to his medical needs during his time abroad. The whispers of her presence only added to the enigma surrounding the Kabaka’s journey.
Shrouded in secrecy, the Kabaka’s health odyssey had unfolded in Namibia since April, as he sought treatment for a mysterious ailment at the Okonguarri Psychotherapeutic Centre, nestled in the rugged northwestern region of Kunene. As his 90-day sojourn drew to a close, the centre petitioned for an extension on his behalf, but the Namibian authorities remained resolute, bound by the strictures of immigration law.
The Ministry of International Relations citing a steadfast commitment to upholding the nation’s laws, and the recent surge in protests by Ugandan activists at Namibian diplomatic missions, denied the request, effectively drawing the curtain on the Kabaka’s Namibian sojourn.
A maelstrom of controversy erupted when Ugandan protesters converged on the Namibian High Commission in the UK, their voices raised in demand for transparency regarding the Kabaka’s prolonged sojourn. Suspicion and intrigue swirled as they alleged a possible abduction, prompting the Namibian government to deflect the matter to the Buganda authorities.
This move precipitated a diplomatic standoff, as a delegation of venerable Buganda traditional chiefs, the Abataka, embarked on a mission to Namibia to ascertain the monarch’s well-being. The situation escalated further when Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni weighed in, his stern rebuke casting a shadow over the already tense diplomatic landscape.”
“President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s stern admonition cut through the air, as he implored Ugandans to desist from embarrassing their nation by grandstanding their support for the Kabaka. His rebuke was aimed squarely at the delegation of Buganda traditional chiefs, whose unsanctioned visit to Namibia had sparked a diplomatic kerfuffle.
The group’s brief detention and questioning by Namibian officials only added to the spectacle, as they were forced to justify their authorization to visit the monarch. Meanwhile, a carefully timed video release showed the Kabaka himself, his voice filled with conviction, speaking of his improving health and his ardent desire to return home. The juxtaposition of the delegation’s departure and the Kabaka’s heartfelt message only served to heighten the drama, as the saga continued to unfold.”
A Namibian state official sought to downplay the controversy, dismissing the uproar as mere protocol, emphasizing that the Kabaka’s departure was simply a matter of “normal practice” for foreign nationals exceeding their 90-day stay. Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Henry Oryem Okello struck a conciliatory tone, acknowledging Namibia’s sovereign right to make such decisions.
“Namibia has clearly signaled its desire to distance itself from this unwanted attention,” he noted, “and we must respect their perspective, their rules, and their way of life.” His words seemed to acknowledge the delicate diplomatic dance playing out, as both nations sought to navigate the complex web of international relations and cultural sensitivities.”
As the Kabaka’s plane touched down on Ugandan soil, a collective sigh of relief and anticipation swept across Buganda and beyond. The end of his protracted and contentious sojourn in Namibia marked a new chapter in the monarch’s journey, leaving his devoted subjects eagerly awaiting updates on his health and future endeavors.
The air was electric with expectation, as whispers of his next moves spread like wildfire, fueling speculation and hope in equal measure. As the Kabaka settles back into his ancestral lands, the nation holds its breath, poised to welcome their beloved leader back to the forefront of public life.
