6 September 2009

Arusha — The East African Community wants the dispute between Kenya and Uganda over the Migingo island to be sorted by the two countries amicably.

Ms Beatrice Kiraso, EAC deputy secretary general (Political Federation) said in Arusha, Tanzania, over the weekend the community does not have any solution to the border dispute.

"We cannot say anything on this. Migingo is a political issue which we hope can be resolved by the two countries amicably," she told reporters.

Kenyan and Ugandan leaders had agreed during the 10th EAC heads of state summit in April to await findings by experts assigned to find out the truth on the disputed borderline.

Ms Kiraso was briefing journalists on joint military exercises in Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Tanga regions which started near Arusha on Sunday. Soldiers from all five member states of the community, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, are taking part.

The journalists had wondered if the military manoeuvres, to involve nearly 1,600 military personnel, would truly reflect the spirit of EA unity with two member states almost at "war" over the small island.

Meanwhile, daily fish harvests from Migingo Island have dropped from ten to five tonnes, according to fisheries officials.

The row over the island's ownership was now affecting the operations of fish processing plants in Nyanza.

Most of them were now operating only once a week due to lack of Nile Perch, said Mr Simon Munguti, the Migori District Fisheries Officer.

On Sunday, Ugandan marine police directed Kenyan fishermen and traders to stop discussing ownership of the island in public.

Businesses on the island now display the portrait of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. A few Kenyans who tried to display the portraits of President Kibaki and Mr Odinga were harassed and forced to remove them from the walls.

allafrica