Migingo Island Excluded From 2012 Census

Uganda Bureau of Statistics—UBOS has excluded Migingo Island from the 2012 national population and housing census until Uganda and Kenya resolve the controversies concerning the island.

The two countries have been claiming ownership of Migingo, a tiny 2000 square-meter rocky island in Lake Victoria for three years.

 Since 1926, the territorial ownership of Migingo Island has been consistently shown on maps and official documents as Kenyan.

But in July 2009, the Ugandan government shifted its official position saying that much as Migingo Island was in fact Kenyan, much of the water near it is Ugandan and therefore Ugandan fishermen have exclusive rights over it.

As a result, both Ugandan and Kenyan fishermen have been fighting for the Island because of its resources. The two countries set a verification committee which is yet to produce its findings.

Amidst this confusion, UBOS has decided to exclude the Island from taking part in the August 2012 exercise until the two countries settle their disagreements.

Rosemary Kisakye, the UBOS Senior Communications Officer told the press in Masaka that people living on Migingo Island will not be counted because of the confusion as to whether they are Ugandans or Kenyans.

Kisakye says they will not send any team to the disputed Island adding that they will consider Migingo in the next 10 years if the technical team established by the two countries declares the Island Ugandan.

She however says that the rest of the undisputed Islands on L. Victoria such as Lukunyu, Nangoma in Rakai district and other Islands near Tanzania will take part in the census.

Emmanuel Menya, a Senior Statistician for UBOS explained that they are in the process of recruiting a special team to conduct census in the 21 hard-to-reach areas in Uganda.

According to Menya, some of the hard-to-reach areas are Kalangala, Buvuma Island, Sigulu, Lwengo and Kanungu among others.

He says that enumerators in these areas will be given special facilitation to enable them carry out the exercise smoothly.

The last population census was conducted in 2002.