Revoke Sudan, Egypt Claim On Nile, EAC Told

By Okello Jabweli THE East African Assembly MPs want the region to petition the International Court of Justice to revoke the 1949-50 Anglo-Egyptian agreement that imposes restriction on the use of the River Nile waters.Wandera Ogalo (Uganda) told the assembly in Nairobi last week that the region should seek compensation for agreements that prevent East African countries from utilising the River Nile for irrigation and other development projects without prior consent of its northern neighbours. “We have been exploited for too long. The Nile agreements prohibit any irrigation or projects on the river without the consent of Egypt,” he said. One of the agreements Ogalo laid on table states that Egypt and Sudan have ‘natural and historical rights’ over the Nile. “It is these kinds of agreements that are dragging us down. How can we develop with such agreements?,” Ogalo added.He singled out the agreement for the construction of the Owen Falls dam as one of those that need to be challenged. He contended that Uganda was not party to the agreement entered into by Britain and Egypt between May 30 1949 — March 20 1950.The agreement required Egypt to pay to Uganda Pound Sterling 980,000 on a once for all basis, for power loss due to water that passes through the dam. “So Uganda was not party to that contract. we can rescind it. For slave trade it was not documented and we cannot sue. But this is documented and we have a strong case,” Ogalo said.He urged the East African countries to approach the matter together, saying it would be futile for Uganda to pursue it alone.Ends