Ugandans ordered to leave island

Ugandan marine police officers who have been camping on Migingo have now received official orders to vacate the Lake Victoria island at the heart of a border dispute between Kenya and Uganda.

The officers confirmed that they were only waiting for fuel to enable them return to Bugiri District as they await the outcome of a border survey to be conducted by the two countries.

The Migingo beach management unit vice-chairman, Mr Juma Ombori, said the officers had informed them about their exit.

“This is a good move in the spirit of the East African Community. Our fishermen are happy with the resolutions reached in the Kampala meeting,” he said.

During the Friday meeting, Uganda agreed to withdraw its security forces from the island. The two countries agreed to carry out a joint survey to determine in which country, Migingo, one of three adjoining islands of the same name, lies.

The Ugandan officers had camped on the island, complete with a radio room for transmitting signals to their seniors in Kampala. They also screened visitors to the island.

Last month, the officers demanded that Kenyans start paying residency fees. But the Kampala talks resolved that there would be no further harassment of fishermen from both sides.

The meeting was attended by Cabinet ministers George Saitoti (Internal Security), James Orengo (Lands), Paul Otuoma (Fisheries), Moses Wetang’ula (Foreign Affairs) and Otieno Kajwang’ (Immigration), and MPs Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i), John Mbadi (Gwassi) and Edick Anyanga (Nyatike).

Regretted the row

Mr Wetang’ula said the 1926 colonial boundary that placed Migingo and Remba islands in Kenya should be respected.

Uganda’s President Museveni has regretted the row between the two countries, saying, leaders should be fighting for creation of one country, East Africa.