Elisha Otieno
5 July 2009
Nairobi — The joint survey team picked to resolve the boundary dispute between Kenya and Uganda over the Migingo Island has asked for more time to complete its work.
The surveyors on Sunday said the July 15 deadline was too soon because they still have a lot of work to do before handing over their report.
The officials said although they had completed erecting control points in five islands in Lake Victoria, they required more time to engage experts in installing buoys on the agreed points.
"It is the experts who will determine the type of the buoys to be used that are appropriate in the lake," said Mr Ephantus Murage, Kenya's director of survey during the team's visit to the disputed island.
The team was given Sh280 million, Sh140 from each of the two countries to determine the boundary between Kenya and Uganda after leaders from the two countries differed over the ownership of the island.
The row threatened relations between the two East African nations over the tiny island that is believed to be rich in fish stocks.
Other islands where control points have been erected include Remba, Sumba, Mageta and the Pyramid which is located a few metres away from Migingo.
Uganda's Commissioner for Survey and Mapping Mr Moddy Kajumbula said they were unable to beat the two months deadline because "funding was delayed".
Accurate results
"We have been working day and night in hard situations to ensure that we deliver accurate results to the people of Kenya and Uganda. We will only seek for more time but not money," he told journalists.
A final report will be presented to the two Heads of State who would then make it public.
"It is from the report that the people will know where Migingo and other islands belong. I hope leaders and citizens will respect the outcome of our work," Mr Kajumbula added.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
