Tension returns to Migingo Island

Tension is high on the disputed Migingo Island once again after Ugandan paramilitary personnel allegedly assaulted a Kenyan fisherman.

Mr Besus Otieno Bunde reportedly sustained serious injuries in the Wednesday night attack.

Was admitted

Sources on the island told the Nation that Mr Bunde, who is the security chairperson of the Migingo Beach Management Unit, was admitted to St Camillus Hospital in Karungu, Nyatike District on Thursday.

Internal Security assistant minister Orwa Ojodeh confirmed the incident and said investigations were in progress.

“We have asked our officers to be alert and are talking to our neighbours,” he said, adding that Uganda was cooperating and had reprimanded the officers involved.

The victim was among 16 Kenyans who were arrested and later released by the Ugandans a few months ago.

A witness, Mr Clifton Juma Ojuki, said that the six paramilitary police officers hit Bunde on the head several times with the butts of their guns.

“They took him out of his house and beat him,” he said, adding: “The situation is tense because people believe our government has abandoned us.”
Area MP Edick Anyanga said Kenyans on the island were living in fear of the Ugandans.

He called on the Internal Security and Lands ministries to make public the results of a survey conducted four months ago to determine the ownership of the island.

Pulled out

A team of experts was assembled earlier this year by the two countries to carry out the survey as the situation threatened to get out of hand.

The exercise stalled after the Ugandan team pulled out over differences in interpreting a joint communiqué on the island.

Last week, panic gripped residents when a speedboat with 17 Ugandan security officers docked at the island.

Fishermen claim they saw the officers offloading guns from the boat, which they left on the island.