Leo Odera Omolo
FOUR Kenyan journalists who visited the disputed tiny Migingo Island spent several hours in the custody of Ugandans authorities while under intensive interrogation
The incident took place on Tuesday this week, when a group of Kenyan newsmen boarded a boat and headed for the disputed island from the Kenyan port of Muhuru-Bay, which is only a few kilometers from the Kenya-Tanzania borders.
The team from the Nation Group of Newspapers and radio stations were held for several hours while being interrogated by a contingent of Uganda marine police boat which had intercepted their boat.
The journalists were ,however, later set free after a senior police officer from Kampala had called security personnel stationed on the tiny one acre island and instructed them to have the journalists freed..
The team’s boat was intercepted and the journalists bundled into a Uganda marine patrol boat they were detained on the island and there cameras note book and money confiscated.
However, a senior police officer from Kampala called to have the newsmen freed
Those briefly detained were Patrick Mayoyo, Ouko Okusa, Jacob Owiti and Migori based NATION’S scribe Elisha Otieno.
The officer in charge of the island Richard Balenzi told the team they had information that a group of Kenyan security personnel was planning to confront the Ugandan soldiers guarding the tiny island.. And that is why the security on the island had remained in the state of alertness for twenty four hours..
The journalists were the latest victim of the summering row that has been going on between Kenya and Uganda over the ownership of the tiny fishing island in the Lake Victoria which is located very close to the Kenyan side of the Lake Victoria shoreline
Kenyan fishermen on the rocky island numbering about 500 are frequently harassed and arrested for trespass by Uganda security personnel, accusing them of trespass.
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Uganda deployed security forces on the island, but Kenya withdrew its team of administration police officers it had sent to the islandt after tension heightened.
Instead Nairobi has chosen the diplomatic path to the chagrin of local leaders’ and fishermen who get a large catch of the highly prized Nile perch in the deep waters around it
Migingo Island is strategic, especially for Kenyan fishermen who fetch a large catches of Nile perch in the deep waters around it.
Meanwhile representatives of the two countries are expected to meet tomorrow in the Ugandan capital, Kampala to work out how the two countries could resolve the controversy surrounding the ownership of the tiny island.
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Four Kenyans Ministers leave for Uganda this afternoon for tentative negotiations to end a tussle over Migingo Island.
The team is headed by Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula who will be accompanied by among others who include James Agrrey Orengo (Lands) Dr Paul Otuoma (Fisheries) Otieno kajwang (Immigration) and Jeffa kingi (East African Community Affairs..
Then Kenyan Ministerial delegation will be accompanied by a team of experts for talks with their Ugandan counterparts.
Other Kenyan government officials in the delegation include Migori DC Julius Mutula, Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia his East African Community counterpart David Nalo and Nyanza deputy Provincial Commissioner Joseph Irungu.
The Kenyan delegation left Nairobi by air this morning for Kampala where the talks will be held from 12 and 13the March.The team will join a technical Kenyan team which is already in Uganda ahead of the two days meeting, which will try to resolve the impasse.
Ugandan security officers recently invaded Migingo Island and reportedly ejected Kenyan fishermen.
Ugandan security officers recently invaded Migingo and reportedly ejected Kenyan security officials and fishermen.
The officers are reportedly introduced levies on fishermen willing to continue fishing at the island sparking off an uproar from the local leaders who felt Migingo Island belonged to Kenya and as such her citizens cannot afford to pay fishing taxes and trade to another country/
Since then, Kenyan fishermen have alleged various forms of harassment at the hands of the Ugandan security and administrative personnel
The Ugandans have hoisted their national flag at the island.
Tomorrow’s meeting will take place amid rising tension over the of ugunja has pulled mo0re than 100 marine police officers to guard the island
Kenyan fishermen wishing to live on the island have been told to apply for special visa/permits.
Fishermen have reported this is increasingly getting difficult for them to continue fishing on the island due to increased military activities and police patrols.
The place has been turned into a security operation area and the Ugandan soldiers are using intensive military security surveillance ,”,said the beach leader Mr. Bernard Jabuya (Kenyan).
He said the visitor’s could be spotted as soon as they get into the water on the Kenyan xxx making it difficult for normal fishing activities to go on.
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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:47:43 -0700 [09:47:43 AM CDT]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: KENYAN NEWSMEN SPENT HOURS IN UGANDAN SECURITY CUSTODY FOR VISITNG THE DISPUTED MIGINGO FISHING ISLAND