Kenya and Uganda clash over Migingo

A fight broke out at the disputed Migingo island in Lake Victoria between Kenya and Uganda security forces.

Three Kenyan administration police officers sustained injuries during the weekend commotion that also involved fishermen.

Trouble began when the Ugandan officers set out to the nearby Nyandiwa mainland beach on the Kenyan side to repair their patrol boat.

But Nyandiwa residents blocked them from docking since they were in full combat gear and armed with guns. The fishermen said the Ugandans were notorious for confiscating their fish and were suspicious over their mission in Kenya.

A Nyandiwa fisherman Oloo Okello said the angry visitors returned to Migingo without repairing their boat.

“ It was upon their return that they declared Kenyan APs drawn from the Rural Border Patrol Unit (RBPU) stationed at the nearby Ugingo island persona non –grata on Migingo. They thought the Kenyan APs are the ones who incited the Nyandiwa people to block them,” said another fisherman, Mr Malachi Ojwando.

But the three RBPU officers defied the security cordon thrown around Migingo island by the Ugandans and went to the island for their daily shopping.

It was at this juncture that the APs, who were unarmed, were beaten by the Ugandans as other Kenyan officers living in Migingo, watched from a distance.

Other reports indicate that the Ugandan police allegedly left to go to Nyandiwa and they were stopped by Kenyan APs who insisted that if they were to go to Kenyan waters, then they had to leave their weapons in Migingo.

This angered the Ugandans who allegedly dared the Kenyan officers to set foot on Migingo.

Nyatike deputy county commissioner Moses Ivuto termed the incident as “unfortunate.”

He noted that most likely the head of Ugandan police in the island was not aware that when his officers cross over to Kenya, they should not be armed and must be given escort. Mr Ivuto said one Kenyan officer slid and fell on the rocks on the island during the fight.

Kenyan fishermen told President Uhuru Kenyatta to secure the island from the “Ugandan intruders” as he promised during the campaigns.

“It is sad that the Ugandan officers are boasting to us daily that our government cannot dare kick them out of Migongo because our President fears the Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni,” said a fisherman Mr Luke Okinyi. RPBU acting police boss Peter Gikonyo however said he would ensure officers deployed in Migingo work in harmony.