Uganda lowers disputed isle flag

The island is popular with fishermen because of its flat, rocky beaches

Uganda has lowered a flag on an island on Lake Victoria at the centre of a dispute with Kenya.

It was done on the president's orders to ensure neutrality during a border verification exercise, a Ugandan government spokesman said.

Kenya claims ownership of the three Migingo islands and maps dating back to the mid-1950s show them to be in Kenyan territory.

But Uganda laid claim to the smallest of the Migingo islands last year.

Ugandans, Kenyans and Tanzanians have lived on the island, which is popular with fishermen because of its flat, rocky beaches that make it easy to dock boats.

Kenya and Uganda have had several conflicts in the past over fishing activities on Lake Victoria.

In a statement, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said he was lowering the flag in the spirit of East African co-operation and integration.

The BBC's Joshua Mmali in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, says a joint team of experts is expected to meet later this week to start work on demarcating the border.