Uganda police deny Migingo torture claims

By Charles Etukuri

Ugandan police force has refuted reports appearing in a section of Kenyan media that its officers beat up their counterparts on Migingo Island, a piece of land that is the centre of a row between the two east African countries.

These reports indicate that Ugandan police beat up three Administration Police (AP) deployed at the controversial island, seriously injuring three others.

“There was no fight as it was being portrayed by the Kenyan media,” deputy police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said.

He termed the incident as a minor disagreement between the two sides.

“The Kenyans were beaten by Ugandans in public glare after they were stopped at Nyandiwa Islands in Kenyan waters. As per procedure, the Ugandans were told to register at Ugingo Island, and leave their weapons behind which angered them,” The Star newspaper quoted a Kenyan Government official.

Nyatike deputy county commissioner, Moses Ivuto was quoted by the paper saying Rashidi Agore – the new head of Ugandan police at the island – was not aware that when his officers cross over into Kenya they are supposed to leave their firearms behind.

“The officer was pushed, slipped and injured his leg and was taken to hospital. We have sent more officers on the ground to ascertain the situation,” Ivuto said.

On the contrary Onyango said some of the officials were blowing the matter out of proportion.

“Our boat had got spoilt and our officer Agore asked his Kenyan counterpart for permission to take it over across to Nyandiwa so that it could be repaired and he was granted permission. But then another officer who was leading the AP, which controls the rural border, stopped them.”

The regional police commander of Busoga East, Echodu Egapytus told New Vision that there was lack of communication between the officer in the communiqué between and their counterparts on the ground.

But even as the Ugandan authorities sought to claim that the officers slipped, The Star quoted Juma Ombori, the island Beach Management Unit (BMU) chairman as stating that the officer didn’t slip but was beaten up by the Ugandans who are more superior in ranks and better facilitated than Kenyans.

“The Ugandan contingent is led by Senior Superintendent of Police, have better pay and weapons with 18 officers while Kenya’s head Richard Omaya is just an inspector with about eight officers,” Ombori said.

The row over the one-acre island has simmered since 2004 when Ugandan security pitched camp at the island to fight piracy in Lake Victoria.

Uganda Police is controlling security in Migingo in line with an agreement signed in Arusha in April 2009 by President Yoweri Museveni and his former Kenyan counterpart Mwai Kibaki to resolve the dispute.

In 2009, the two countries instituted a survey to determine who owns the island but the outcome of that survey has never been conclusive.

Echodu said both sides had met to try and calm any tensions in the area and that more meetings will be held over this weekend to calm down the tension.