Kenya and Uganda on Wednesday agreed to form a joint police force on the Migingo Island, which is claimed by both countries along their common border. Addressing the media, the Kenya Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinnet together with his Ugandan counterpart Gen. Kale Kayihura said the taskforce would look into allegations of human rights violations, address cross-border terrorism, cattle rustling, contraband goods and also delve deeper into border policing issues.
“We have agreed that we shall undertake joint patrols and other joint missions on the island and on the waters,” Boinnet said. Boinnet further said that both the Ugandan and Kenyan Police have agreed to establish a special unit that will secure the Northern corridor from Nairobi-Kisumu-Busia border to end traffic jams and facilitate trade.
Boinnet said that during the joint patrols, the maximum number of police officers to be deployed by each nation will not exceed 12 at any time on the tiny island. The move comes in response to media reports that residents on the island are facing harassment from police officers of both nations.
The two countries also agreed to form a joint special police unit to focus on the Northern Corridor, which links Kenya’s Mombasa port to landlocked Uganda