All set for survey of Migingo

All is set for the survey of the contested Migingo Island in Lake Victoria, the Nation has established.

Surveyors now have the equipment they need for the job that is expected to put to rest claims from Kenya and Uganda on the ownership of the island.

Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula, who is chairing the team of experts trying to resolve the issue, and his Ugandan counterpart Sam Kutesa are expected to flag off the work.

“We are set and money has been made available. We hope to meet the team from Uganda next week so that we can agree on the methodology and reference points,” said an expert who declined to be named as he is barred from speaking to media.

The surveyors have the Global Positioning System ready and would hire big boats to accommodate everybody relevant to the work, he added.

The survey, which will cost Sh140 million, will be undertaken by surveyors from Lands ministries in the two countries. Other officials will be from the Foreign Affairs and Fisheries ministries.
The row could be resolved by comparing documents and maps on the demarcation of East Africa by the British Government, which are in the possession of the two countries. Copies of the same were lodged with the UN in New York and in London. Others could be found at the national archives and Foreign Affairs ministries of the two states.

At the same time, Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga has asked police commissioner Maj-Gen Hussein Ali to set up a permanent post on the island to protect Kenyans from aggression by Ugandan forces. While commending Uganda for lowering its flag, he said it was still of concern that its police and military were still on the island.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni directed the lowering of the flag, his spokesman Fred Opolot said on Tuesday. He further said their technical boundary research team was due from London after “collecting source data relevant for use in the demarcation process”.

Reported by Samwel Kumba, Caroline Wafula and Oliver Mathenge