afrol News, 13 May - Kenyan legislators are angered by remarks attributed to Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni over the raging debate on the Migingo Island, saying the comments were an insult and derogatory to the Kenyan government and its people.

President Museveni has reportedly sparked fury on Monday when he said the disputed Migingo islands currently under Uganda control belonged to Kenya but the water around the Island was Ugandan.

The angry legislators today lashed at president Museveni's statement and demanded an explanation and answers from the government to explain why the Ugandan president had insulted Kenyans over the Migingo Island's row.

Kenya and Uganda have been in a bitter spat over the ownership of one of the smallest of the Migingo islands which Uganda has laid a claim on since 2008 though it is closer to the Kenyan borders.

The MPs called on the Kenyan government to take charge of the Migingo Island claiming the occupation by the Ugandan forces is itself an act of aggression, also urging President Kibaki to exercise his constitutional powers to protect and restore the country's territorial integrity.

The legislators further ordered president Mwai Kibaki to tell president Museveni that his comments on the contested island were unacceptable, saying the bulk of the waters flowing into Lake Victoria are from Kenya.

Uganda has occupied the island since 2004 but Kenya maintains that it is on its side of the border. Tensions began to rise when Ugandan security began charging Kenyans residency fees on the island.

Waters around Migingo are rich in fish, whereas other parts of Lake Victoria have been decimated by over-exploitation.

Earlier this month, the two East African nations began a joint survey to verify ownership of the Migingos in the rich fishing waters of Lake Victoria. The exercise is due to last two months and both countries have agreed to call an independent expert in case of further dispute.

By staff writer

© afrol News

Related pages and feature

Current afrol News Top Stories