Kenya tells Uganda to pull forces from islands
Kenya has asked Uganda to immediately withdraw its security forces from the two disputed islands in Lake Victoria.
A delegation led by Nyanza provincial commissioner Francis Mutie visited the Migingo and Ugingo islands for the first time and asked the neighbouring country to stop acting in a manner likely to strain relations between the two East African nations.
“There is no need for the Ugandan marine police to continue occupying the islands when the ownership is still disputed,” Mr Mutie told journalists in Migori town after the tour.
“Ugandans have been occupying Migingo Island since 2004 and this is wrong going by the available international boundary records that indicate Migingo as a Kenyan island,” he said.
Mr Mutie confirmed that Ugandans had constructed temporary structures on the newly seized Ugingo Island.
“Ugingo is in Kenya and has not been a subject of dispute. We will only hold discussions over the Migingo ownership,” the PC said. Lands minister James Orengo said records dating back to 1912 confirm that the island belongs to Kenya.
