Random Rwandans views on the Migingo Island saga

On Tuesday, President Paul Kagame jetted in from a one-day visit to Uganda where he met his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni. In the consultative meeting, the focus was on the East African community matters in preparation for the upcoming EAC Summit to be held in Arusha, Tanzania next week among other issues. While addressing the press after the meeting, his Excellency and Chairman of the EAC bloc Paul Kagame mentioned on and said that the current crisis between Uganda and Kenya over ownership of Migingo Island is a matter that can be solved by Surveyors basing on the records. However, early on Village chiefs in Migingo threatened to organize and bloc trade routes to Uganda if the issue is not settled in time, which could affect Rwanda as well. Sunday Times Grace Mugoya got to the streets to get people’s views on the matter. “It’s true; the two countries should recognise and respect the results from the surveyors. The out come is not to be based on any individual, but based on records. None of the two countries have come-up today or yesterday, so I believe that they have proper records of border boundaries,” Alice Uwamurera, 28,Business lady. “This is something very important that should be handled with care. It is possible for the two countries to disagree with the results produced by the Surveyors. The same way African leaders disagree with electoral commissions when their opponents win, can happen to the Surveyors’ reports,” Bosco Munyeneza, 30, Teacher. “It’s hard to know the truth about the tiny Island, but the outcome can easily affect business activities in Rwanda as well. If the border between Uganda and Kenya is blocked, goods or businessmen from Mombasa to Uganda and finally to Rwanda will face it rough. We shall be affected too,” Samuel Hakiziman, 22, Student. “It beats my understanding as to why the two countries conflict over a tiny Island now after all that long. The Island has not erupted today, it has been there. This is the time that the EAC has started yielding fruits, and what is expected is much more than what has so far been achieved,” Betty Nyamurinda, 20, Shop attendant. “Land ownership is not something to be taken lightly. Migingo does not belong to heads of state of the two countries. It belongs to the nationals. When nationals of the two countries fail to agree and settle the matter amicably, we will also feel the conflict like the economic crisis in America today,” Henry Musasizi, 23, Technician. Ends