FISHERMEN ANS SECURITY IN MIGINGO ISLAND.

By Agwanda Jakorandoh

ABOUT 200 Fishermen who were sent away by Uganda Authority from the disputed Migingo Island will at least have a reason to smile following the government’s decision to establish a police post in the Island to beef up security.

Speaking yesterday to both the fishermen from Kenya and Uganda at Migingo Island in Migori District during a meeting convened in trying to find a lasting solution to the Island ownership saga, Migori District Commissioner Julius Mutula said the government intends to put up the police post in a week’s time from now, adding that he will forward the idea which was one of the meeting’s resolutions to be discussed at a top security meeting in Nairobi before being implemented.

Both the fishermen from Migori District in Kenya and their Bugiri District counterparts from Uganda have been embroiled in a tussle since 2004 following the Island ownership.

According to Uganda Fishermen, the disputed Island falls under their Bugiri District but their Kenyan counterparts have vehemently refuted the claims saying it belong them since is falling under Migori District.

The DC said that both the Kenyan Government and their Ugandan colleagues are currently discussing about the boundary of the disputed Island, while adding that plans are already underway to demarcate the international boundary by the surveying authorities’ from the two governments.

“The issue of Migingo Island ownership needs thorough International Boundary survey. This is the only way the dispute can be amicably solved,” said the DC.

The Administrator further took a hard decision and dissolved the current Island’s Beach management Unit committee after Kenyan fishermen protested and demanded the overhaul of the BMU citing nepotism during its last elections held last September, saying their Ugandan colleagues were elected as the unit’s officials while allegedly blocking Kenyan Fishermen from participating and being elected.

Both the District Fisheries Officers from Migori and Bugiri Districts will oversee the formation of the new BMU committee.

The DC called for patience and harmony among the two warring fishermen communities while their governments are dialoging trying to find a lasting solution to the problem.

However, drama unfolded just before the meeting started when a section of Kenyan Fishermen attempted to put up the Kenyan Flag at the Island . It took the DC about 20 minutes to plead with them not to erect the flag.

The fishermen challenged the DC to tell his Bugiri counterpart to order her people to lower the Ugandan flag which has been flying at the Island since 2004.

It also took one of the Island ’s conflict Resolution committee member, Leonard Obala to intervene and calmed the unruly fishermen who later ended up not erecting the Kenyan Flag.

On her part, Bugiri Resident DC Mwana Moiza Chikomeko said yesterday’s meeting was to harmonize the fishing activities within the Island, adding that it will be extended to other districts that border the Lake .

Mwana Moiza further urged the fishermen to fish and a bide by the fishing laws from the two countries, while stressing that this will enable them not to be on the wrong side of the law.

“We believe that the resolutions we have made here is going to bring some changes in the Island ,” said the Resident DC, adding that permanent solutions will soon be achieved.

While reacting on the request by t6he Kenyan fishermen for their Ugandan colleagues to remove their National Flag on the Island , the administrator said that the Maritime Security from her country which ercted the flag will remove it after she consult the Ugandan government.

Those who accompanied the Migori DC were the area OCPD Eric Mugambi, the District Administration Police Commandant Apolo Onyango, area Fisheries Officer Tom Jienda and Migori District BMU Officer while the Ugandan Delegation was led by the Resident DC accompanied by Bugiri District Police Commandant Byahunga Dan, area Intelligence Officer Ekiring Moses area Fisheries Officer Igoma Fred among others.

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