Elisha Otieno
29 May 2011
Nairobi — Ugandan security forces on the disputed Migingo and Ugingo islands in Lake Victoria have defied exit orders issued by the Kenyan government.
The officers have stayed put and continued with their operations despite eviction threats issued by Nyanza provincial commissioner Francis Mutie.
The PC had issued quit orders to both the Ugandans and Kenyans who had moved to Ugingo Island in a bid to restore calm in the area.
But some of the Ugandan officers said they had not received “formal communication from Nairobi and Kampala to leave Ugingo” and were only reading about it in the newspapers.
Kenyan fishermen led by Migingo Beach Management Unit chairman Juma Ombori have demanded action from the government.
“President Kibaki, as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces should give orders to remove the Ugandans forcefully. We are tired of their harassment and extortion,” Mr Ombori said.
A delegation led by Mr Mutie visited Migingo and Ugingo islands for the first time two weeks ago asked Uganda to stop behaving in a manner likely to strain the good relations between the two East African nations.
The PC said the officers should be removed until the row is resolved.
“There is no need for the Ugandan marine police to continue occupying the islands and yet 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.”
At the same time, Lands minister James Orengo said records dating back to 1912 “confirm beyond any reasonable doubt that the two islands are the property of Kenya”.
“It is regrettable that Uganda is trying to change demographics in the lake. This conduct is hostile and against the spirit of good neighbourliness,” the minister said.
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