The Ugandan Government has deployed elite Special Forces Command to guard the disputed Migingo Island.
The move is likely to spark a fresh row with Kenya considering the two countries are yet to decide where the island falls.
In March 2016, Kenya and Uganda agreed to appoint coordinators to determine where the disputed island was placed between the two countries to resolve the prolonged dispute.
After the agreement, hostilities between the two countries did not end, with reports emerging that Kenyans who were fishing at the island were being attacked by Ugandan police officers.
This compelled both countries on August 24th, 2016, to form a joint task force that would see police in the two countries patrol the disputed island in Lake Victoria and the entire border.
Kenya's Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet and his Ugandan counterpart Gen. Kale Kayihura said the task force would look into allegations of human rights violations, address cross-border terrorism, cattle rustling and also delve deeper into border policing issues.
Uganda's latest decision comes as a surprise to Kenya considering the earlier agreement to wait until the establishment of the task force.
The two countries enjoy a good relationship considering Uganda is Kenya’s largest trading partner.
