Writes Leo Odera Omolo
PERHAPS alarmed by the tough talking by Kenyan leaders who include President Mwai Kibaki and MPs and last week’reconnaince flight staged by Kenyan military helicopter which flew over the two disputed Lake Victoria islands,Uganda is reported to have beefed its security personnel.
Travellers and fish traders who came out of the two disputed islands of Migigo and Ugingo have reported spotting the arrival of close to 30 more marine police over the weekend.
The new arrivals of men in military uniform, they said have brought with them military equipment including anti-aircraft rackets and heavy guns. They arrived in a speed boat from either Jinja or Kampala and took position on the islands.
Kenyan fishermen said Ugandan security personnel continued controlling the two islands in Lake Victoria despite President Kibaki insistence that the islands lie squarely on the Kenya side of th lake.
Juma Ombori who is serving as the Migingo Island Beach Management Unit confirmed by phone that a senior Ugandan army officer has called on Ugandan businessmen and fishermen living in Migingo and Ugingo islands to ignore the reports of outbursts by Kenyan leaders.
He said Kenyan fishermen and fish traders sharing the two fishing island were also told not to expect any change on the islands and that they must continue obeying the rules and regulations set by Ugandans or else they would be kicked out.
The senior army officer, according to Juma Ombori insisted that the situation would only change with the joint official announcement from Nairobi and Kampala simultaneously. The officer whose names was not given had told Kenyans that Ugandan business will continue with the construction in Ugingo and others will cross to Kenyan mainland towns of Sori in Karungu By, Muhuru Bay in search of building materials because the next large commercial town on Uganda’s mainland is far way and travellers needed ten hours to cruise in a voyage through the lake using boats, so the nearby places they can purchase the constructions materials are the two Kenyan lake side towns.
Three fisheries officials sent by Uganda to the Island from Bugiri as well as about40 marine police officers went on with their operations as usually ,seemingly undisturbed.
Kenyan fishermen have asked the government to stop making empty statements in Nairobi and Migori if they want to resolve the row over the ownership of the two islands. Such pronouncements usually endangered the lives of Kenyan fishermen living on the two islands as Ugandan armed security personnel always react angrily.
Statement made in Nairobi or even carrying out aerial survey by Kenyan military helicopter as it happened last week will not make Ugandans leave the islands, one Ugandan officer told Kenyans.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of Kenyans who thronged the Nyayo National Stadium in the capital, Nairobi on June ist to commemorate the 48th Madara Day anniversary celebrations, President Mwai Kibaki assured Kenyan that the islands of Migingo and Uhgingo lie squarely on Kenyan territory.
He said the government would provide its citizens with the maximum security.”I wish to assure Kenyans that the islands of Migingo and Ugingo lie squarely on Kenyan territory in Lake Victoria.There should, therefore, be no cause for alarm on this issue,” he added
President Kibaki said the government would opt for diplomacy rather than use of force to resolve with dispute with its neighbors.
“My government is committed to providing security to every Kenyan.We have intensified border patrols along our frontier to contain any forms of crimes.”
The dispute between Kenya and Uganda over Migingo Island began way back in 2009 when Uganda lid claim to the fish-rich rocky island, which is very close to the Kenyanb mainland, but takes ten hours to travel to the nearby Ugandan mainland town.
A survey carried out found that the two neighboring island are 510 metres inside Kenya territory, in an are situated east of Kenya Uganda border.
Meanwhiletwelve Kenyan fishermen arrested at Osieko beach, Bondo district in Siaya County, by Ugandan authorities were on Sunday released after being held for more than 24 hours at Sigulu Island in Uganda.
Bondo DC Salim Muhamum confirmed and said the 12 were released on Sunbday morning after being grilled by the Ugandan security forces for trespassing into their territory and using illegal fishing nets,which are not alowd on the Ugandan side of the lake.
The D.C said four boats belonging to the fishermen were impounded by Ugandan during the operation.Th boats were towed to Sigulu Iusland in Uganda where they were still be held.
Fishermen who managed to escape said the boats were taken with fish catches that the fishermen had harvested from traps laid at night..
According to the fishermen on the beach, marine police officers from Bugiri have been patrolling the beach for 24 hours. At some time, civil society members have vowed to lead a protest match against the posting of Ugandan security officers at Migingo and Ugingo islands.
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