International Court could resolve Migingo row

• Ministers urge the media to be responsible and avoid propaganda.

• They rule out possibility of war over Island's ownership.

The Kenya and Uganda dispute over Migingo Island could end up at the International Court of Justice if bilateral efforts do not produce favourable results.

Uganda Foreign Affairs minister Mr Isaac Musumba and Kenya Assistant minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Richard Onyonka said diplomatic means had reached a high level and technical teams should be allowed to conclude their survey in two months time for the matter to be resolved.

"Maritime survey is different from land survey and only experts can determine the matter. We have bilateral means, regional forums and even the International Court of Justice to resolve the issue if all our efforts fails. The option is not going to war," said Mr Musumba.

They were speaking during a workshop organised by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region to discuss disarmament of pastoralist and nomadic communities living in the borders of Uganda, Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia.

Mr Musumba said the maritime survey would address other islands like Lolwe, Wayasi and Sigulu, which Uganda had annexed in the last two decades.

He said war is not an option and told off those making inflammatory statements from the Kenyan side that “no amount of such talk will kill our diplomatic means of resolving the dispute.”

Mr Onyonka said it is cheaper to use diplomatic means than going to war adding that “those war mongers will be the first people to run away when it is declared.”

He asked Kenyans to tone down their emotions and allow the experts to do their work.

The Assistant minister said Uganda is Kenya’s largest business partner and their good relations will not be put to jeopardy by the Migingo matter. He said the present day technology like the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) would help deal with the two countries borders on water. 

The two ministers urged the media to be responsible and avoid propaganda.

Mr Musumba said maps are available which the experts will use in the process and even when there is a hitch, the countries have the bilateral, regional harmony and international options to resort to.

"Nigeria and Cameroon went to the International Court of Justice to clear the Badme dispute and to make it worse the area has oil. Ours will be resolved as well through the cheapest mechanism," Mr Onyonka said.