Residents demonstrate over Museveni stand on Migingo

By Nick Oluoch and Roselyne Obala

Residents of Migori held a demonstration and castigated Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni over his slur on the Luo and stance on Migingo Island.

Waving placards, the more than 500 protestors, led by former area councilor Bashir Mohammed, marched through the town streets yesterday chanting anti-Museveni songs.

They demanded an apology from the president over his ‘mad jaluo’ slur. They said his comments on the Luo amounted to an affront to Kenyans.

After the one-hour demonstration the residents went to Migori DC’s offices where they delivered a petition to DC Julius Mutula. It was received by District Officer 1 John Tanui. The DC was not in the office. Tanui urged the protesters to end the demonstration and assured them the issue was being handled at a higher level.

Meanwhile, Kimilili MP Simiyu Eseli has called on the Government to assert its authority on the Migingo controversy. He criticised President Museveni, terming him an "expansionist" who has waged war with some of his neighbours in the past, and was now targeting Kenya.

External Assistance

The MP was reacting to Museveni’s press briefing with Kenyan journalists at Entebbe Airport, where he maintained his country’s ownership claim of the disputed island.

Eseli challenged President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to take the Migingo issue seriously and seek external assistance to resolve the dispute.