Colonial Cartograhy: A Hidden Crucible of the Migingo Conflict

ABSTRACT

Scholars have extensively studied the ways in which colonial borders configure the African continent. In East Africa, studies have demonstrated that the colonial naturalized inter-state boundaries have been a source of territorial conflicts. Focusing on the Uganda-Kenya conflict over Migingo Island, this article examines the forces that shaped the demands and claims of either state over the island. Migingo is a rocky islet in Lake Victoria that has been a contested ground between Uganda and Kenya since 2009. Drawing on colonial maps, reports, documents and interviews with Ministry Officials, the paper argues that imperial cartography in East Africa is flawed and cannot resolve the Migingo conundrum. It further reveals that the various joint-survey commissions have failed to re-affirm the borderline because of the inconsistences and ambiguities encompassed in colonial delineations and mappings. It thus calls for negotiations to address this maritime imbroglio between the two states.

KEYWORDS:

• Colonial cartography
• Migingo Island
• Uganda-Kenya boundary
• East Africa and crucible

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge the generous financial support from the Gerda-Henkel foundation, the Social Science Research Council (SSRC)-Next-gen program and the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA). Their generosity played an invaluable role towards producing this academic paper. We appreciate the constructive criticisms from Prof. Moda Dieng. We wish to further appreciate Linda Ehrichs for peer- reviewing this paper. Finally, thanks to the archivists and respondents both in Uganda and Kenya for providing information which was utilized to write the paper.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 A letter to Sir Harry Johnson by the Marques of Salisbury written on July 1, 1899

2 Uganda National Archives, Wadengeya, Letter No.46 written by Sir Charles Eliot to the Commissioner, Uganda Protectorate on 12th November, 1903, File Name: Boundaries of East Africa and Uganda, File no. A46/2622.

3 Uganda National Archives, Wadegeya File Name: Boundaries of East Africa and Uganda, File No. A46/870 Box No. 867–870

4 Uganda National Archives, Wadengeya Draft Order of the Secretary of state drawn by Mr. Hurst; sent to Commissioners for concurrence and observation (by telegraph) File Name: Boundaries of East Africa and Uganda, File No. A46/870 Box No. 867–870

5 Uganda National Archives, Wadengeya: A report sent to the Hon. Colonial Secretary, Nairobi by Sd. C.O Gilbert, AG. Director of Land Surveys dated 5th July 1924 Ref. No. 2231/ IV/20 of 4^th July 1924 File Name: Boundaries of East Africa and Uganda, File No. A46/870 Box No. 867–870

6 Uganda National Archives, Wadengeya, A letter from the Provincial Commissioner’s office, Eastern Province, Jinja to the Honorable, Chief Secretary Entebbe on 28^th September, 1928. File Name: Boundaries of East Africa and Uganda, File No. A46/870 Box No. 867–870

7 Uganda National Archives, Wadengeya A dispatch by Wyson Blain, Lands Officer to the Honourable Chief Secretary Ref. S.M. P 2364(V) File Name: Boundaries of East Africa and Uganda, File No. A46/870 Box No. 867–870

8 Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Kenya and the Government of the Republic of Uganda on the Reaffirmation and Demarcation of the International Boundary signed on 30^th November, 2018

9 Officials report in preparation for the Joint Consultative Ministerial Meeting to discuss the resumption of the joint survey on the Maritime section of the Uganda-Kenya made on the 18^th July 2011

10 Joint Communique of the Uganda-Kenya joint Ministerial Consultative meeting on the resumption of the Joint Kenya-Uganda Boundary survey held between the 25th -26^th of July 2011

11 Minutes of the Joint Technical Meeting held on 18th January 2007 at Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel-Entebbe, Uganda

12 Officials report in preparation for the Joint Consultative Ministerial Meeting to discuss the resumption of the joint survey on the Maritime section of the Uganda-Kenya made on the 18th July 2011.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Gerda Henkel Foundation.