The row over Migingo is not simple

Apr 26, 2009

<b>Okodan Akwap</b><br><br>UGANDAN politicians are wrong: the row over Migingo Island is not a<br>small matter. It is the tip the iceberg waiting to wreck the East African federation vessel.

Okodan Akwap

UGANDAN politicians are wrong: the row over Migingo Island is not a
small matter. It is the tip the iceberg waiting to wreck the East African federation vessel.

I find it unbelievable that our politicians still do not get it. They are saying the Migingo Island is a
small matter between us and “our brothers”. It is not that simple.

What is the relevance of this “brotherhood” if Aggrey Awori
needs an entry permit to visit Moody Awori in Kenya? And what
kind of “brothers” yank out a major artery — the railway line to Mombasa — that is critical to our economic competitiveness as a land-locked nation?

Now, more than ever before, I am
convinced that the matter of our
having “brothers” in Kenya or elsewhere, is of little consequence
to regional integration. That enterprise must be driven by the
concept of “good neighbourliness”
as the boss of Rift Valley Railways — the operators of our major artery to the sea — correctly
argued recently.

Look at how good neighbourliness
in Europe, North America and South-East Asia, is contributing to wonderful things: booming trade, conflict management, prosperity for large middle-classes, educational progress, better health and long life.

Those people are reducing or eliminating whatever differences
exist between them as individual
nations; They are building supranational institutions that ease
movement of people, ideas, technology, goods and services across increasingly superficial borders.

It is in the interest of America for Mexico to be prosperous to limit the number of poor amigos running up north. No wonder, President Barack Obama visited Mexico instead of rushing to see his poor Kenyan brothers and sisters.

It is economic cooperation, not political federation, that should anchor our quest for regional integration. And a pan-african economic community makes a whole lot more sense that this “small is beautiful” East African federation our politicians want.

Even if they force us into that small tent, we will continue bickering and throwing poisoned darts at each other as Ugandans, Kenyans and whatever.

The Migingo row should warn us to change tact and direction if we ever want to escape from poverty and misery.

The writer is the head of Mass Communication at Kampala International University

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