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Kenyan fishermen were forced to vacate the disputed Lake Victoria's Migingo Island following the deployment of heavily armed police officers by the Ugandan government on Sunday.
This comes days after Ugandan security officers reportedly used force to lower the Kenyan flag hoisted on the fishing island in breach of an initial agreement between Kenya and Uganda for joint policing of the one-acre piece of land.
The latest incidents are likely to escalate further the long-standing ownership row for the Island that is surrounded by fish-rich waters between the two countries.
"Scores of Kenyan fishermen have been accosted in the lake and robbed of fish. It seems Uganda has decided not to let go of Migingo," said Muhuru beach fisherman Daudi Odich.
"Most of the officers do not understand Luo. They have therefore recruited some Kenyans, at a fee, to spy for them," said fisherman Boaz Onyango.
John Obunge, chairman of Migingo Beach Management Unit said Kenyan fishermen kept off over fears of being harassed by the Ugandan officers like has been the case in the past. "We do not know what they are planning to do," Obunge said.
The agreement to jointly police the island was arrived at after meetings between Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Yoweri Museveni as part of efforts to reach an amicable solution on ownership.
However, Ugandan officers have been accused of harassing and arresting Kenyan fishermen over allegations of illegal fishing.
"We have worked on a plan to secure all our people. We will step up security and patrol around Lake Victoria. It is sad sometimes when you are humble people think you are not able. I think if our friends have been thinking because we are humble we are weak," Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said during a recent visit to Homa Bay county.
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Kama umeona au kutafiti kisiwa cha Migingo, utakubaliana nami ya kwamba Ndugu Kaguta Yoweri Museveni kiongozi wa nchi ya Uganda, kweli ni mwenda wazimu. Hiyo ndiyo hatari mojawapo kubwa sana kwa binadamu wa kawaida kuwa kiongozi kwa muda kama wa huyu ndugu yetu - mwenda wazimu Museveni.
Territorial integrity is the hallmark of a sovereign nation. Our inability to secure Migingo is an insult to the Republic. Uhuru must get together with M7 and resolve this nagging problem once and for all. Failure to do so will end up costing Kenyan lives in the future as they struggle to regain what was already ours.