Uganda, Kenya agree on Migingo Island

Aug 24, 2016

The island has been at the centre of a dispute between Kenya and Uganda with both countries claiming ownership

Kenya Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinnet (R) shakes hands with his Ugandan counterpart Gen. Kale Kayihura after signing the agreement.

In a bid to end hostilities at Migingo Island, both Kenya and Uganda have agreed to form a joint taskforce that will see Police in the two countries patrol the disputed island in Lake Victoria and the entire common border.

 

Addressing the media at their headquarters at Jogoo House in Nairobi, the Kenya Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinnet together with his Ugandan counterpart Gen. Kale Kayihura said the taskforce would look into allegations of human rights violations, address cross-border terrorism, cattle rustling, contraband goods and also delve deeper into border policing issues.

Boinnet further said that both the Ugandan and Kenyan Police have agreed to establish a special unit that will secure the Northern corridor from Nairobi-Kisumu-Busia border to end traffic jams and facilitate trade.

The agreement comes in the wake of last week's visit by both security chiefs to the island where they held a joint security meeting with locals and Police.

The two assured the locals who reside on the island of total security.

The island has been at the centre of a dispute between Kenya and Uganda with both countries claiming ownership. The row reached a boiling point in 2008 after Kenyan fishermen were barred from fishing in the waters.

In 2013, a lobby group wrote to the International Criminal Court requesting for investigations into claims that Uganda forces are violating the rights of the people living on the Island.

 

 

The African Human Rights Bureau through its executive director Dan Alila requested ICC to invoke its powers to protect the Kenyan residents living and fishing around Migingo and Ugingo Islands "from Ugandan Forces aggression."

However speaking during last week's visit, the two security chiefs promised to ensure that there is peaceful co-existence between Kenyans and Ugandans living on the island.

Boinnet however maintained that Kenyans and Ugandans living on the island must respect the rule of law to avoid friction that has been reported previously adding that they must do their fishing activity in accordance with the law.

Gen Kayihura on the other hand said that the people living on the island must respect the laws of Kenya and Uganda as the two countries continue to work out a solution.

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