Uganda seizes another Kenyan island

A new diplomatic battlefront looms between Kenya and Uganda over the latter’s “seizure” of another Kenyan island in Lake Victoria.

Ugandan security forces deployed to guard the disputed Migingo Island moved to the new island, which is barely 50 metres from the populous Migingo, and began putting up makeshift mabati structures, perhaps to house some of them.

The new island, referred to as Ugingo, has been undisputedly within the Kenyan side of the lake and has remained uninhabited due to its steepness.

The third island known as Pyramid is the biggest of them all and is also 100 metres from Migingo in Kenya’s territorial waters.

The Ugandan security officers remained tight-lipped on their “new mission” on being prodded by the perplexed Kenyan traders and fishermen.

The move happened barely a fortnight after the neighbouring country posted more officers to Migingo.

Nyatike district police boss Simon Onampiu told the Nation by telephone that he was aware of the new development and they were liaising with the Ugandan authorities “to sort out the issue amicably before it gets out of hand”.

Recently Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba  accused Uganda of violating the spirit of East African Community by constantly attacking Kenyan fishermen and venturing beyond the internationally recognised borders to hoist their flag.

“We are shocked by the conduct of the Ugandans. Instead of waiting for the Migingo row to be solved first, they are opening a new battle front to deflect attention from the Migingo ownership row,” said Mr Paul Okello, a Kenyan fisherman.

The neighbours also cleared bushes from the top of the Ugingo island as if to prepare it for helicopter landings or human settlement.

Some of the Ugandan officers declined to discuss their latest move with the media only saying “we are acting on orders from our superiors”.

Assert authority

As if to assert its authority on the fish-rich Migingo, the neighbours posted an additional eight marine police officers two weeks ago to join the other 30 who have been there since the beginning of the ownership row.

They arrived in a police speed boat that also carried their arms and personal belongings including clothes and bedding.

The move caused panic on the one-acre island with Kenyan fishermen protesting at the development.

“The Ugandans must be having a bad scheme up their sleeves following the new deployment…a fresh round of harassment and extortion could be in the offing,” said Mr Juma Ombori, the chairman of the Migingo beach management unit.

He demanded an explanation from the Ugandan Government “on what necessitated the need to suddenly increase the number of the officers”.

The tiny island in Lake Victoria is surrounded by a rich fishing ground. The two East African countries have failed to resolve the row that has lasted several years.

The fishing activity on this rocky island has turned Kenyans and Ugandans into millionaires.

Big time fishermen and brokers live in posh estates in Kisumu and Kampala besides driving top-of the-range cars.

The island records landing of about 10 tonnes of Nile Perch daily worth more than Sh1 million, according to records in the fisheries departments in Kenya and Uganda.

The catches are sold to processing firms in Kisumu and Nairobi for export to the European Union countries.

Senior Ugandan Government officials are also reported to be engaged in the fishing around Migingo, explaining their keenness to protect the island.

Fish transportation trucks usually line up the Muhuru, Nyangwina and Sori beaches daily to wait for the catches delivered by boats from Migingo.

Fisheries officials say if Uganda took away the island, the local industry would suffer a big blow.