Disappointing meeting on disputed island

By Nick Oluoch

It was a three-hour breathtaking sail from Muhuru Bay to Migingo Island.

But the boat carrying senior Kenyan officials and journalists had hardly docked at the island when over 20 Uganda marine police rushed to the shore with cocked guns.

The Kenyan team — comprising Migori DC Julius Mutula, senior police officers and journalists — were shocked.

Waiting on the shore to receive the Kenyan contingent was Uganda’s Bugiri DC Mwanamoiza Chikomeko, whose area of jurisdiction according to Uganda, includes Migingo.

The marine police, all armed with AK-47 rifles, outnumbered our seven Administration Police.

Before making it into the negotiation room, Mrs Chikomeko cautiously turned back and politely asked the Kenyan team to sign the visitor’s book, a routine procedure on the island.

Mr Mutula politely but firmly rejects the suggestion, saying signing the book will be admitting the island belongs to Uganda and, therefore, there was no reason for the consultative meeting.

Joint patrols

Mrs Chikomeko reluctantly shut the book but the message was clear — she was the one in-charge of the island and the Kenyans were visitors.

Ugandan fishermen and fisheries officials have been on the island since 2002, when they co-existed with Kenyans, but later moved to take its administration a year ago.

As we walked deeper into the one kilometre square island, we noticed a fluttering Uganda flag. Kenya has none.

The venue of the meting is strategic, in the middle of the island with armed Ugandan policemen standing to attention.

At the entrance, the Ugandan security barred all journalists from getting in.

Soon, the meeting ended and the journalists were called in. But we were told not record anything.

As the officials briefed journalists, it become clear to the Kenyans they were not going to get what they wanted, at least not now. Their request for their flag to be hoisted on the island was postponed for a week.

As resolutions were read one after another, frustration crept onto the fishermen’s faces, who keep shouting ‘no’ in unison.

The officials say a decision that police officers from both countries conduct joint patrols on the island and that Kenyan fishermen continue to fish and pay taxes to Uganda had been reached.