The Ugandan government has dropped plans to tax fishermen in Migingo Island Sh80,000 annual fee per boat. I have been duly informed that the Ugandan director of fisheries has cancelled the planned huge tax on our Kenyan fishermen until further notice, said Migingo fisherman chair John Obunge yesterday.
We have only received communication from the Ugandan authorities but not our government, he said. Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga warned against leaving out local leaders in handling the Migingo dispute. He said Kenyan fishermen have suffered in the hands of Ugandan soldiers who keep harassing them whenever they go fishing. The Migingo issue is advanced and sensitive hence the need by the government to involve all the stakeholders in a bid to find a lasting solution, he said.
Anyanga said the Interior Secretary should involve other relevant ministries in solving the dispute. The Ministry of Fisheries, East African Affairs as well as Security must work hand-in-hand with the local leaders to find a lasting solution to the Migingo dispute, he said.
Anyanga said the planned Migingo conference should not be held in Kisumu town but Migori, which hosts the island. He said Kenyans should be told of the findings of the joint surveys that were done on the island by Kenyan and Ugandan authorities. The director of political affairs at the office of the President, Joseph Kuttuny has promised to meet Anyanga ahead of the Wednesday conference.
He said it is important to get the MP’s views on the island and what should be done to find a lasting solution. Kuttuny said Kenyan and Ugandan authorities will on Wednesday discuss ways of ensuring calm at the disputed island at a conference to be held in Kisumu town.
The government wants to end the dispute at the Island so that fishermen can continue with their daily chores without any problems, he said. Kuttuny said the government is yet to receive an official communication from Uganda. This comes barely a few days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku directed the security team in Nyanza to visit Migingo.
Lenku and Kuttuny met Migingo Beach Management Unit officials, who said they had received notice to pay the huge tax. The officials said they pay Sh4,000 monthly per boat for protection. Lenku said security officers at the island will be facilitated to ensure efficient patrols.