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{
    "id": 71157,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/71157/?format=api",
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    "content": "(a) Members of this august House will recall that a joint Ministerial team that met in Kampala on 13th March 2009 agreed on a joint boundary survey as a way forward in determining the ownership of the Migingo Island. The joint communiqué issued at the end of this meeting directs as follows:- (1) That the Order in Council of 1926 and the schedules to the Ugandan Constitution of 1995 and the Kenyan Constitution of 1963 would be the primary documents in dealing with this issue. (2) There would be an immediate withdrawal of all security forces from the island to create an enabling environment to carry out the joint boundary survey. (3) There would be no more harassment of fishermen from both sides, provided that fishing regulations agreed upon under the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization would be in force. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this House will also recall that after this meeting, an experts’ team worked out a budget of US$1,659,180 for the joint survey and border marking exercise as well as applicable work schedules and time frames. After a joint Ministerial fact-finding tour of Migingo Islands in March 2009, further discussions between the two Heads of State centered on the withdrawal of security forces from the island. After that, a joint survey exercise kicked off on 11th May, 2009. The survey exercise progressed well until 10th July, 2009 when the Ugandan team left Lake Victoria for Kampala after significant differences emerged on matters of technicalities. One of such technicality was on the interpretation of the exact location of the westernmost point of any given island as described by the 1926 Order in Council. These disagreements will require expert advice in accordance with International Maritime Law. Following this impasse, both Foreign Ministers discussed the matter and agreed that another joint Ministerial meeting was needed. Uganda offered to host the next bilateral Ministerial consultations in Kampala. The exercise of asserting the boundary was, therefore, not completed. (b) The Government is committed to resolving the Migingo Island dispute once and for all but peacefully. We actually owe it to our citizens to resolve the Migingo issue in a friendly and constructive atmosphere. The Government resolve in this matter was aptly re-iterated during a courtesy call on H. E. President Museveni by the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister on 2nd April, 2010 when he went to Uganda. Kenya and Uganda enjoy historical and strategic relations that cover a wide range of spheres. It would, therefore, be quite unfortunate that these relations between our two countries are defined by a disagreement over Migingo Island. Indeed, this would be contrary to the spirit of East African integration. Furthermore, African States have resolved to put in place a new form of pragmatic border management aimed at promoting peace, security and stability and also facilitating the integration process within the East African region. Regional economic communities have also been called upon to assist the States in mobilizing the necessary resources and expertise which would include facilitating the exchange of experiences and promoting inexpensive border delineation and demarcation practices. Pursuant to the declaration on the African Union (AU) border programme and its implementation modalities as adopted by the Conference of African Ministers in charge"
}