Report Leo Odera Omolo In Karungu-Bay Saturday 28th March, 2009

THERE was prolonged ululations and enthusiasms as the three Kenyan ministers made a surprise late afternoon visit to the disputed Migingo Island in Lake Victoria on Friday.

The three cabinet Ministers included Moses Wetangula{Foreign Affairs} James Agreey Orengo{Lands, Dr Paul Otuoma{Fisheries}and the Internal security Deputy Minister Joshua Orwa Ojode.

The Ministers were accompanied by two Provincial Commissioners for Nyanza and Western Provinces, Paul Oland {Nyana} and Abdul Mwasera{Western} and the Migori D.C. Julius Mutula. The two provinces all bordering the lake at one point or the other.

The Kenyan Ministers were joined by their Ugandan counterparts, the included three Ministers. They held an hour long discussions on the little island that for many years was uninhabited until 2000 when a few Kenyan fishermen landed there.

The officials had been joined by their Ugandan counterpart at the Kisumu Airport from where they boarded military helicopter and were flown to Muhuru Bay in Nyatike district from where they boarded two boats belonging to Kenya Fisheries and one for the Kenyan Revenue Authorities for the two hour sailing voyage to the rocky one acres Migingo Island.

The officials landed on the island in which 85 per cent of the population of about 600 people are Kenyans, but on which Uganda has planted its national flag and stationed about 30 soldiers. It happened only a day after President Mwai Kibaki had expressed hope for an amicable solution would be reached by the two countries.

Anear drama unfolded at Muhuru Bay pier, when the Migori D.C. Julius Mutula made a futile attempt to bar journalists from boarding the motor b\oat ferrying the Kenyan and Ugandan official to the island. And it took the intervention of the Nyanza P.C. Paul Oland to have the scribes on board of the two boats.

About 30 Ugandan soldiers clad in their full military combat gear and guns at ready, were still patrolling
The island two weeks after the Ministers meeting in Kampala had decided that the island be declared de-militarized zone or no man’s land until the two governments sorted out its ownership,diplomatically.

There were excitement among Kenyan fishermen and fish traders operating at the tiny island when the Ministerial delegation arrived.
ENDS
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

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Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:21:06 -0700 [03/28/2009 05:21:06 AM CDT]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: KENYAN AND UGANDAN TOP OFFICIALS IN A SURPRISE MISSION TO THE HOTLY DISPUTED MIGINGO FISHING ISLAND IN LAK VICTORIA