By Raymond Baguma

THE resumption of the exercise to establish the location of the disputed Migingo Island awaits a meeting between Ugandan and Kenyan foreign affairs ministers Sam Kutesa and Amos Wetangula.

President Yoweri Museveni met Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga over the weekend and they agreed to resume the stalled joint survey of Migingo.

Museveni said once the survey is completed, Uganda would ensure that Kenyans fish legally on the Ugandan side of the lake.

Odinga also said Uganda and Kenya were too dependent on each other to disagree over boundaries.

Fred Opolot, the director of the Uganda Media Centre and the spokesperson on the Migingo Island, yesterday said: “The ministers have to meet but the date is not yet set.”

Opolot said the ministers will discuss why the surveyors from the two countries halted their work.
The two countries have in the past accused each other for stalling the survey.

Last year, the Ugandan team returned home to hold consultations and later returned to resume the survey.

However, shortly after, the Kenyan team also left the area to consult and did not return. Presently, the Uganda Police controls security on the disputed island.

Opolot added that the sh4b joint budget for the survey would have to be revised, taking into account the delay.

Efforts to contact Kutesa yesterday were futile because his mobile phone was switched off.

The lands ministry spokesperson Dennis Obbo said the team of surveyors could not go ahead with the survey until they are authorised by the foreign affairs ministry.