Migingo Island row will not affect EA community
THE wrangles between Uganda and Kenya over Migingo Island will not affect the East African regional integration, the East African Community (EAC) has said.
By Anthony Bugembe
THE wrangles between Uganda and Kenya over Migingo Island will not affect the East African regional integration, the East African Community (EAC) has said.
“Those small issues cannot overshadow the integration agenda. The East African Community will overcome them,†said Richard Owora Othieno, the public affairs manager.
The disputed island is home to about 200 people and a docking station for fishermen.
A row erupted over ownership of the island last November.
Last month, Nyanza provincial authorities accused Ugandan officials of trespassing and illegally collecting sh50,000 in annual operation fees in the Kenyan area.
This led to the eviction of over 400 Kenyan fishermen from the island.
Othieno was addressing journalists about the EAC high level taskforce meeting.
The meeting, which is negotiating the EAC common market protocol, opened yesterday at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
He said the meeting was the 9th round of negotiations for the common market of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.
It is the second stage of the integration process after the customs union which came into operation in 2004.
“During this last round of negotiations, critical issues that had not been settled by the five member states are to be considered,†he said.
The issues to be discussed include land, work permits, right of residence and free movement of goods and services.
Othieno noted that there was an East African passport to ease movement in the region.
“We expect to have the draft protocol ready for presentation to the ministers of East African affairs in a meeting to be held from April 8 to 9 in Kampala,†he added.
THE wrangles between Uganda and Kenya over Migingo Island will not affect the East African regional integration, the East African Community (EAC) has said.
“Those small issues cannot overshadow the integration agenda. The East African Community will overcome them,†said Richard Owora Othieno, the public affairs manager.
The disputed island is home to about 200 people and a docking station for fishermen.
A row erupted over ownership of the island last November.
Last month, Nyanza provincial authorities accused Ugandan officials of trespassing and illegally collecting sh50,000 in annual operation fees in the Kenyan area.
This led to the eviction of over 400 Kenyan fishermen from the island.
Othieno was addressing journalists about the EAC high level taskforce meeting.
The meeting, which is negotiating the EAC common market protocol, opened yesterday at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
He said the meeting was the 9th round of negotiations for the common market of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.
It is the second stage of the integration process after the customs union which came into operation in 2004.
“During this last round of negotiations, critical issues that had not been settled by the five member states are to be considered,†he said.
The issues to be discussed include land, work permits, right of residence and free movement of goods and services.
Othieno noted that there was an East African passport to ease movement in the region.
“We expect to have the draft protocol ready for presentation to the ministers of East African affairs in a meeting to be held from April 8 to 9 in Kampala,†he added.