Uganda police arrest IEBC clerks in Migingo Island

Two Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) clerks in Nyatike Constituency in Migingo Island were Tuesday arrested by Ugandan authorities for trespass.

Clerks George Odhiambo and Wilkister Alao were accused of going into a foreign land without authority.

Trouble started when the clerks set up a voter registration desk after clearance by the police officers from the Kenyan side, who subsequently informed their Ugandan counterparts of IEBC's plans.

"The Kenyan locals were jovial and jammed a queue in a short time and we started registering them," said Odhiambo.

After registering five people, we were called to the Beach Management Unit (BMU) Ugandan office," Odhiambo said.

At the office, they were informed by Sergeant Denis Tolit, who heads the Ugandan force in Migingo, that orders from "above" had reversed the earlier consent and they were not needed in the island.

This prompted the Sergeant in-charge of Border Patrol Marine Team Mohamed Ngome of Kenya Police to intervene.

Sgt. Ngome reinstated the polling desk and immediately, Sergeant Tolit summoned all his officers and ordered for the arrest of the Kenyan Sergeant and the clerks for disobeying Ugandan authority.

"The Ugandan officers were 18 in number, all ready for war. We ran away to our houses for safety." said a shop keeper at the island who declined to give her identity for the fear of harassment and victimisation.

The clerks were roughed up by officers as Ugandans who live in the isolated island cheered on. They were bundled in one cell under tight security.

The incident resulted in a brief stand-off between Kenyan and Ugandan security officers who cocked their guns ready to defend their territory.

"After spending over one hour locked up in the cell, a signal ordering our freedom rang. The officers returned our phones and ordered us to leave the island with immediate effect," said Alao.

Due to a protracted dispute over the ownership of Migingo, cases of harassment on Kenyans living in the island have been reported.

Nyatike constituency IEBC boss Samwel Ochieng' said they are still consulting their seniors for further direction.

"Migingo is a gazetted polling station and people voted there in 2013, I wonder why they cannot allow us to register our voters for next year's general election," added Ochieng'.

Last year, Migori County Deputy Commissioner James Mabeya stationed at Sori was roughed up by the Ugandan police at the island, causing cold relationship between the security officers from both countries.