Army denies occupying Migingo island
UGANDA has dismissed claims from Kenya that it had deployed the army on the disputed Migingo Island in Lake Victoria.
By Milton Olupot
UGANDA has dismissed claims from Kenya that it had deployed the army on the disputed Migingo Island in Lake Victoria.
The Daily Nation newspaper yesterday reported that a UPDF Brigadier only identified as Echoti had been deployed as the commander of the troops on the island.
The paper also quoted Echoti as saying he had taken charge of the island, and that the Police had been replaced by the army.
Army spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayigye, however, described the allegations as nonsensical.
“We do not have Brig. Echoti in the UPDF. There are elements in Kenya who want to create confusion. We don’t see any threat in Migingo and, therefore, we cannot deploy the army,†he noted.
“The island is too tiny for a military occupation. It is my humble appeal to whoever is concerned that there are already mechanisms in place to address the issue. It would be indiscipline to deploy despite the mechanisms in place to sort out the matter,†said Kulayigye.
Internal affairs state minister Matia Kasaija, said: “I am not aware of the Police withdrawal. They are still there to guard the people and their property as agreed by the two governments. I am not aware of the army deployment, talk to the army.â€
Relations between the two countries deteriorated over ownership of the island in November 2008.
To avert a possible crisis, the two governments last month set up a joint border committee to verify where the contentious island lies.
UGANDA has dismissed claims from Kenya that it had deployed the army on the disputed Migingo Island in Lake Victoria.
The Daily Nation newspaper yesterday reported that a UPDF Brigadier only identified as Echoti had been deployed as the commander of the troops on the island.
The paper also quoted Echoti as saying he had taken charge of the island, and that the Police had been replaced by the army.
Army spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayigye, however, described the allegations as nonsensical.
“We do not have Brig. Echoti in the UPDF. There are elements in Kenya who want to create confusion. We don’t see any threat in Migingo and, therefore, we cannot deploy the army,†he noted.
“The island is too tiny for a military occupation. It is my humble appeal to whoever is concerned that there are already mechanisms in place to address the issue. It would be indiscipline to deploy despite the mechanisms in place to sort out the matter,†said Kulayigye.
Internal affairs state minister Matia Kasaija, said: “I am not aware of the Police withdrawal. They are still there to guard the people and their property as agreed by the two governments. I am not aware of the army deployment, talk to the army.â€
Relations between the two countries deteriorated over ownership of the island in November 2008.
To avert a possible crisis, the two governments last month set up a joint border committee to verify where the contentious island lies.