Kenya, Uganda police bosses visit Migingo

Migingo island in Lake Victoria. Kenya and Uganda police bosses made a surprise visit to the disputed island on August 16, 2016. FILE PHOTO |

Kenya and Uganda police bosses made a surprise visit to the disputed Migingo Island in Lake Victoria.

The Nation has learnt that Kenya’s Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet and his Uganda counterpart Kale Kayihura visited the island on Tuesday afternoon to assess the security situation.

The duo flew in one chopper from Nairobi to Muhuru beach in Migori County before taking a speed boat to the island.

They later held a closed-door meeting with security officers manning the island.

“The two spoke largely about joint lake patrols between officers from the two East African countries. The uncoordinated patrols [were] blamed for conflict and harassment of the Kenyan fishermen," said a source who attended the meeting.

Kenyan fishermen and traders have been complaining about harassment, intimidation and extortion by the Ugandan security forces.