Security chiefs to meet over island row
Top security chiefs from Kenya and Uganda meet this week to finalise joint plans to deploy law-enforcement officers to the disputed Migingo Island, the Nation has learnt. According to Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula, this was in line with an agreement reached at a meeting between officials from both governments in Kampala in March.
Mr Wetang’ula’s statement on Monday comes amid claims that Uganda was tightening its grip on the island with the deployment of its army to guard the one-acre island whose offshore is rich in Nile perch. The Foreign Affairs minister declined to comment, saying he was not aware of the matter.
“I am not in a position to comment about a matter until I am furnished with all the information,” he said at a news conference in Nairobi on Monday. The announcement came amid reports that Uganda had reintroduced fishing levies on fish landed on the island and that it was engaged in military helicopter aerial surveillance of the area.
The Sh5 levy per kilogramme of fish was halted early last month after talks between ministers of the two countries. Records from the Fisheries Department indicate that at least 10 tonnes of fish, valued at Sh1.2 million, is landed daily on the rocky island.
Tough action
Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch has called for military action to repossess the island. He said Kenya had been diplomatic with the Ugandan government for too long, adding that tough action needed to be taken.
Speaking at the African Inland Church in Kisumu over the weekend, he accused the neighbouring country of not being diplomatic by not withdrawing its soldiers as had been agreed earlier.
The MP urged Kenya to engage its troops to repossess the island, which he said belongs to Kenya going by historical records.
