President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni have finally agreed to end the dispute on Migingo Island.
The two heads of State on Thursday agreed to share the Island as they seek to foster economic and political ties between the two countries.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma confirmed the deal.
She said that the new development will enable both Kenyans and Ugandans to access the Island without any fear of victimization. She asked Kenyans to accept the new deal for the sake of peaceful co-existence.
“Kenyans should know that these boundaries are shared by communities across the countries, and we have to find a way to make them soft,” said the CS, as quoted by Daily Nation.
“My message to Kenyans is that we have their interests at the top of our minds and this can be realized by reducing the risks they face in accessing the trans-boundary resources,” she added.
Ms Juma also said that Kenyans need to understand that there was a need for negotiation over the matter when asked whether the land belonged to Kenya or Uganda.
Over the years, Kenya and Uganda have been in dispute over the Island. Ugandan soldiers have been arresting Kenyan fishermen on the Island and taking them to court for trespassing. Uhuru and Museveni have vowed to maintain cordial ties for the sake of the economic development of the two nations.