Videocrux - Disputed island of Migingo

#Videocrux - Disputed island of Migingo Disputed island of Migingo
Kenya and Uganda still unable to agree on who owns the island of Migingo, local tensions are growing between the two communities, working and living side by side
Lake Victoria, the largest tropical lake in the world
Lake Victoria or Victoria Nyanza (also known as Ukerewe and Nalubaale) is one of the African Great Lakes. Lake Victoria is 68,800 square kilometres (26,600 sq mi) in size, making it the continent's largest lake, the largest tropical lake in the world, and the second widest fresh water lake in the world in terms of surface area.
All about the Island of Migingo
Migingo (also called Bugingo or Ugingo) is a Ugandan island which is also claimed by Kenya. The island is shown to be west of Pyramid Island according to Google Earth maps. Both the Ugandan Constitution of 1995 and the Kenyan Constitution of 1963, quoting the 1926 Kenya Colony and Protectorate (Boundaries) Order in Council, agree that the boundary passes on the westerly most point of Pyramid Island. This therefore means that Migingo should be in Uganda at the very least. A joint re-demarcation of the border was launched on June 2nd 2009 to recover and place survey markers on land, making delineation of the boundary on the lake more precise, and is expected to be concluded in two months time.
Migingo an island of opportunities
William Onyongo Amwom, Kenyan Fishing Leader sees a lot of potential in the island in terms of fishing.
Island of contention for Uganda and Kenya
In June 2004, according to the Kenyan Government, Ugandan marine police came and pitched tents on the island, and raised the flag of Uganda and that of their police department. Ugandan and Kenyan Police have since occupied the island at various times. A dispute flared in February 2009 when Kenyans living on Migingo were required to purchase special permits from the Ugandan Government,sparking a diplomatic row between the two countries. Tensions have been prevalent between the two groups since the time of 2007 Kenyan elections.
Thieves in uniform
The presence of Ugandan authorities is increasing on the island, and there are currently no Kenyan security officials stationed there. Kenyan fishermen have had to bare the brunt of the dispute, and many of them feel neglected by their government, as they have not seen any concerted effort to resolve the issue. Some of the Kenyan fishermen have begun to leave Migingo, seeing that they are being systematically chased out of the island, and seemingly with no assistance from their government.
Kenyan island Ugandan water
On March 13 2009, several ministers, including the foreign affairs ministers, Moses Wetangula of Kenya and Sam Kutesa of Uganda, met in Kampala and reached an agreement that the fishermen from both countries be allowed to continue conducting business as usual, until the boundary was determined by experts. They also agreed that Uganda withdraw the 48 policemen it had deployed on Migingo. Amidst concerns that the dispute may affect cooperation between the two countries and within the East African Community, both President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Mwai Kibaki of Kenya have voiced confidence that the dispute will be resolved amicably.

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