Migingo verification starts

May 12, 2009

THE long-awaited joint verification exercise to establish the ownership of the disputed Migingo Island on Lake Victoria was finally launched yesterday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

By Barbara Among

THE long-awaited joint verification exercise to establish the ownership of the disputed Migingo Island on Lake Victoria was finally launched yesterday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The exercise, that had been postponed twice, is slated to start this week and be completed in two months.

The survey shall be guided by the Order-In-Council agreement of 1926 and the constitutions of both countries. The survey, according to a press statement, will start from River Sio at the tri-junction where Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania share the border and run southwards following the description in the 1926 Order-In-Council agreement.

It will go through the islands of Sumba, Bangeta, Kihingiti, Remba and end at Migingo Island.

“In determining the location of Migingo Island, the survey team is informed by the arguments from both sides on which of the two islands next to Migingo constitute the pyramid,” the statement read.

“In this regard, straight lines shall be drawn from Remba Island to the two islands and the team shall report on both dimension of the survey.”

Tanzania shall be invited to join the survey, at a later stage to determine the tri-junction.

The two countries also agreed that in case of any disagreement, an independent expert will be called in.

“The survey team shall operate as one in the spirit of East African Corporation and where there is a disagreement, an independent expert shall be contracted.”

Upon completion of the survey of Lake Victoria, the joint team will proceed to determine the unmarked border points up to the tri-junction with Sudan.

The Ugandan government has said it will accept the results of the remarking exercise. Uganda lowered its flag on the island on April 27 on the orders of President Yoweri Museveni.

The two East African nations are both claiming ownership of the tiny Island.

The dispute has led to riots in Kenya, which briefly disrupted the railway supply line to Uganda.

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