The National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership and its supporters’ continuous claims that the Ugandan and Nambian governments conspired and kidnapped the Kabaka of Buganda have led to Nambia denying his (Kabaka) visa extension, citing constant accusations over social media and at some of their embassies across the world.
The Nambia government declined to renew Kabaka’s visa, whose earlier stay of 90 days in the country for health reasons had expired, where he has been receiving medical care for an undisclosed condition.
According to Nambian officials, in May 2024, there were protests at the Nambian High Commission by NUP chapter members in the UK. Demonstrators demanded transparency over the King’s extended stay in Nambia and his actual location, demanding his immediate release.
“They wanted us to disclose information bearing the whereabouts of the Kabaka; we referred them to Buganda Kingdom, but they did not stop; they kept posting and tweeting on social media and tarnishing our country’s image. We cannot allow that; we have decided not to renew his visa,” a Nambian official said.
Buganda’s Katikiro, Charles Peter Mayiga, said that he had strictly asked politicians, especially Robert Kyagulanyi of the NUP, to keep Kabaka out of their politics of scheming and attacking individuals and the Kingdom at large, but they would not heed to it.
“I don’t understand what they stand to gain from this and always involving the Kingdom and Kabaka in their politics; now visa renewal has been declined, yet he was recuperating well in Nambia, where his doctors in Germany had sent him,” Mayiga said.
Mayiga, in a disappointed voice, queried such selfish individuals and their intentions towards their Kabaka, whom they have always attacked since he fell sick.
“Our Kabaka deserves to be respected and allowed time to rest well while sick; unfortunately, these so-called politicians and their supporters have not accorded him that; they have kept attacking him on social media, claiming to care about him. If you cared, you would not have made such baseless claims of a kidnapping; you should have respected his wishes for privacy as earlier requested,” Mayiga said.
Robert Kyagulanyi, while speaking at a wedding at Serena Kigo earlier this year, urged all Buganda to seek the Kabaka’s whereabouts and refuse to listen to Mayiga, arguing it was their right to demand their Kabaka, know where he is, and even visit him.
Following Kyagulanyi’s statements, social media was awash with posts demanding the Kabaka’s whereabouts and return to Uganda, and more pressure on the Nambian government intensified.
However, these selfish utterances have not only affected the renewal of Kbabak’s visa but also interfered with his recovery. Whether the Kingdom will bring back the sick Kabaka or arrange for him to change to another country is not known at the moment.
