Buganda Kingdom clan chiefs were briefly detained by police in Namibia while attempting to visit Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi.
The group was arrested 4 kilometers from Okonguarri Psychotherapeutic Centre, where the king is receiving treatment. They had traveled to Namibia without clearance from the Kingdom administration, claiming they didn’t need it.
On Tuesday, they drove 300km north to see the monarch, stopping at the Okonguarri health facility’s signpost to take pictures. However, police soon stopped them, questioning their purpose and detaining them at Outjo Police for over three hours.
The detained clan chiefs included Eria Buzaabo Lwasi (Ndiga), Kasirye Mbugeramula (Nvuma), Deus Mawesano Kyeyune (Ngaali), Sheba Kakande Kibirige (Ngeye), and Godfrey Katende of Olugave clan.
Before their release, they were asked to contact the embassy in Pretoria.In Kampala, Katikkiro Mayiga condemned the chiefs’ actions, warning Ugandans to “watch out for those who pretend to love the Kabaka more than his own family.”
Mayiga insists that all information about the Kabaka’s health must come directly from him or the royal family.
The clan leaders had been denied access to reach the Kabaka until the President’s office intervened and allegedly communicated to officials in the Namibian government, which extended their stay in Namibia waiting to meet the Kabaka.
