His Excellency the President of Kenya, Hon. Mwai Kibaki, in his speech at Nyayo Stadium, addressing the nation on the 48th Madaraka Day celebration rendered that the disputed islands of Migingo and Ugingo belong to Kenya. He was quoted saying, “I also wish to reassure all Kenyans that the islands of Migingo and Ugingo lie squarely on Kenyan territory in Lake Victoria.”
Capital FM website on May 1st reported that, “Ugandan Security forces operating at the two islands, both lying about 15km from the shorelines of the lake on the Kenyan side of the border have in the past defied exit orders issued by the Kenyan government.” On 3rd June 2011, allAfrica.com reported that “Ugandan authorities have told their troops to ignore President Kibaki’s statement declaring Migingo and Ugingo islands in Lake Victoria as Kenyan territory…” This has been seen as a response to Kibaki’s statement on Madaraka Day that partly read, “My Government is committed in providing security for all. We have intensified patrols along the borders to contain any forms of crimes.” The Ugandan forces in the area have further been reported to have “warned Kenyan Fishermen in and around both islands to obey their administration and expect no change of guard there.”
This has not been the first time that Kenya and Uganda have conflicted over the two islands, On March 9th 2011, Capital FM reported the American Ambassador, Michael Ranneberger saying, “There is some speculation that Kibaki’s silence on the issue is designed to embarrass Prime Minister Odinga, showing him powerless to resolve the dispute which negatively affects his ethnic Luo community.” Uganda has continuously insisted that Migingo and Ugingo islands are in their territory. The Ugandan Marine Police on both locations have been collecting taxes from Kenyan Fishermen and even going further to harass and arbitrarily arrest the Fishermen. Kibaki has always advocated for a diplomatic solution but Wikileaks reported that the Ugandan “seizure” of Migingo Island is an emotive issue among Kenyans living around Lake Victoria, who also form the bedrock of Mr. Odinga’s political support, reported Africa Review website.httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-gNt3n8ZlU
Flashback to April 7th 2009 and Daily Nation website reported that “Kenya President and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni held talks over Migingo Island and agreed that the issue must not be allowed to overshadow the good relations between the two countries.” A joint communiqué was signed between the two countries the previous month.httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6EwrF7wjUM Thus, this issue should not be allowed to spill over yet again considering also that the region’s countries are having hard economic times. At all costs, both countries should seek a mutually agreeable solution that will uphold human rights and fair co-existence. The Kenyan government executives should stop holding political grudges and work as parts of one unit, purposely to move Kenya forward on the growth agenda.
References:
Kibaki and Museveni Agree on Migingo Daily Nation April 7th,2009
Migingo,Ugingo islands belong to Kenya, Kibaki declares The Standard June 1st,2011
Kenya’s President ‘set PM up’ in Migingo island dispute Africa Review March 9th,2011
Kibaki says Migingo, Ugingo in Kenya Capital FM June 1st,2011
Uganda to Ignore Kibaki On Islands June 3rd,2011
Kibaki ‘Set Raila Up’ in Migingo Dispute March 8th,2011
Jijuze 