Africa-Press – Kenya. Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Odinga has urged President Yoweri Museveni and his counterpart William Ruto to consider jointly managing the security of Lake Victoria.
He said the directive will end what he termed as persistent harassment of fishermen and promote peaceful cross-border cooperation.
Speaking during the launch of Phase 2C of the Kisumu–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Kisumu on Saturday, Oburu appealed to the two leaders to make Lake Victoria a common user facility, similar to how communities historically shared the resource without conflict.
“I plead with you, President Museveni, to make Lake Victoria a common user facility so that you can manage the security of the lake jointly with us,” he stated.
“We don’t want harassment from our side and your side. President Museveni and President Ruto, I plead with you, make this a common user facility how it used to be when our forefathers were managing it without any conflict at all,” Oburu said.
The ODM leader emphasised that communities living along the Kenya–Uganda border have coexisted for decades and depended on the lake for fishing, transport, and trade, noting that cooperation between the two countries would restore harmony and protect livelihoods.
Oburu said the lake should serve as a unifying economic resource rather than a source of conflict, adding that joint security arrangements would help eliminate frequent tensions that have often affected fishermen operating along the shared waters.
He noted that many communities straddle the Kenya–Uganda border and have historically interacted freely, making it necessary for both governments to adopt collaborative measures in managing the lake and its resources.
Oburu’s remarks were made in the presence of Presidents Ruto and Museveni, who had jointly presided over the SGR Phase 2C launch at Kibos in Kisumu County, an event that highlighted growing regional cooperation in infrastructure and economic development.
Towards the end of last year, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula had raised concerns over the equitable sharing of Lake Victoria’s resources and the alleged harassment of Kenyan fishermen during a meeting with Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Wetang’ula, who met General Muhoozi on December during a courtesy call by the East African Community (EAC) Bureau of Speakers, said the discussion centred on long-standing issues affecting communities living around the shared lake.
“In a tête-à-tête meeting with General Muhoozi, I highlighted the importance of equitable sharing of the common resources of Lake Victoria,” Wetang’ula said.
He noted that harassment of Kenyan fishermen by Ugandan security personnel around Migingo Island remains a significant concern.
