Kenya, Uganda in talks over Migingo Island dispute

Head of the Kenya delegation and Western Kenya Regional Co-ordinator James ole Serian (centre), head of the Uganda delegation Mohamed Sadique (right) and Nyanza Regional Co-ordinator Francis Mutie during the Ninth Kenya-Uganda border technical meeting in Kisumu, Wednesday. [PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/STANDARD]

By DENNIS ONYANGO

Kenya: The Government wants the Migingo Island border review exercise revived to solve ongoing wrangles between Kenyans and Ugandans.

Head of the Kenyan delegation to the Ninth Uganda-Kenya Joint Border Commissioners’ Meeting, James ole Serian, asked the joint border survey committee to urgently embark on the review process to end the stalemate.

Mr Serian, who is also the Western Regional Co-ordinator, said the long-time territorial spat over the island in Lake Victoria will soon be resolved in a diplomatic manner.

“We have enjoyed a good and peaceful relationship with our neighbours. We need to solve outstanding issues harmoniously,” he said.

The joint survey team had in 2009 undertaken inspection of international boundaries in the region. The demarcation exercise was to cost Sh240 million.

During the Kenya-Uganda ministerial meeting held in Nairobi in 2011, it was resolved that the survey team would produce a report and come up with practical modalities to conclude the survey and demarcation of the boundary.

The initiative, however, stalled due to what Serian termed failure to bring all stakeholders on board.

He noted that although some resolutions have been implemented such as joint policing of Migingo Island, joint regular meetings between administrators of Nyatike Sub-county and Bugiri District in Uganda have not been fully realised.

His Ugandan counterpart, Mohammed Sadique, said the thorny issues surrounding ownership of the island were yet to be addressed.

He stressed the need for the two countries to engage in a disarmament initiative to curb terrorism and perennial cattle rustling across the border.

 “In Uganda, the exercise had been rolled out and 30,934 guns suspected to have been used for cattle rustling were recovered,” he said.

Sadique urged the Kenya Government to launch the same initiative to restore order.

“The presence of guns in the hands of the public weakens our resolve to fight cattle rustling and terrorism,” he said.

Nyanza Regional Co-ordinator Francis Mutie said Migingo Island issues would be addressed in the spirit of the good relationship that has existed between the two countries.

The delegations pressed for joint intelligence gathering systems between the two countries and agreed to continue pushing for peace in Somalia.