Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Sori-Karungu Bay.
Tension has eased out on Migingo and the twin islands of Ugingo in Lake Victoria following the announcement by in both Nairobi and Kampala that top security chiefs are scheduled to me in the Uganda capital on Monday to discuss security matters.
A contingent of Kenyan administration policemen landed on Migingo last Monday raising tension as it appeared that he move caught heir Ugandan counterparts unaware or their impending arrival or it was a case of total breakdown in communication between the Ugandan marine policemen who have been manning the island ever since 2004 and their bosses in Kampala.
Unconfirmed reports says some of the Ugandan policemen on seeing their Kenyan counterparts motor boat approaching the island had cocked heir guns in readiness to open for ,but were reportedly restrained by seniors.
After surveying Migingo, the Kenyan security personnel fond the island too congested and could no find enough space to erect tents. They moved on Ugingo Island which is only 100 meters away and pinched their tents.
It is also untrue that Kenyan policemen were frisked of their firearms and disarmed by Ugandan counterparts as was reported by a section of the press. The two groups did not come into direct contact and therefore no confrontation of any sorts took place.
It was the question of accommodation for the Kenyan policemen on he densely populated Migingo that forced them to set their camp at the nearby Ugingo, which is situated only 100 meters away, with enough space for accommodation for 40 or more Kenyans.
On Thursday news came over various FM vernacular stations that the Kenyan Police Commissioner Matthews Iteere will travel to the Uganda capital, Kampala where he will meet his counter part Maj-Generl Sale Kayhihura to discuss and fine tune f the logistics of joint patrolling work by the two sides.
The deployment of Kenyan security personnel o the disputed island was among he resolution passed at a special committee meeting held in Nairobi last month which was attended by Kenyan and Ugandan Ministers.
Kenyan fishermen and traders living on the island said the move was most welcome. They praised President Kibaki and his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Museveni and urged the two to find a quick solution so that tension between the two countries could be fizzled out.
Nyatike MP Edick Omondi Anyanga told this writer the patience of his people was running out. The two countries should work out the mode of taxation and levies paid by fishermen and those involved in fish trade. The two governments must agree on as to who should receive taxes and levies on fish catches currently enjoyed by Uganda.
Nyatike constituency has the largest shoreline stretching from Lak-Nyiero on the border of Nyatike and Gwassi districts through Sori to Luanda, Ndiwa, Angugo on to Muhuru-Bay on the border of Kenya and Tanzania. It is a distance of about 50 kilometers. Most of the Kenyan fishermen living on Migingo hail from Nyatike and the area legislator has a strong belief that a last solution would be found.
The fishermen, however, have expressed fears that Uganda appeared to be content on holding on the twin islands for their economic viability.
Ends