At present, it is estimated that there are around 900,000 islands on Earth, with 16,000 of them being inhabited. One of the inhabited islands that has garnered significant attention is Migingo. Migingo is the name of a small rocky island with an area of 2,000 square meters, roughly equivalent to half the size of a football field. When viewed from a distance, the island appears like a pile of debris floating in the middle of the sea.
This island is situated in Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. It consists of cramped huts made from cardboard and wood, with the majority of its residents working as fishermen and fish traders. Despite its congested conditions, this tiny island hosts numerous facilities, including four bars, a hair salon, a pharmacy, a casino for gambling, and even four brothels. Despite its diminutive size, Migingo is one of the best fish-producing islands in Africa, and its catch is exported directly to Europe. Over 100 boats bring their catches to this small island every morning to be weighed and sold. After the fish processing companies purchase what they need, they transport the fish to the mainland of Kenya. Due to the abundant fish yields in the waters surrounding Migingo Island, it has become a subject of contention between two African nations. The waters around the island are rich in Nile perch, which is a staple of the African diet. Therefore, it’s not surprising that this island is contested by neighboring countries.
Migingo Island is claimed by both Kenya and Uganda, with both nations insisting on their ownership of the island. Interestingly, there is a much larger, uninhabited island to the east of Migingo, about 200 meters away, but neither country seems interested in claiming it. Two Kenyan fishermen claim to be the first residents of the island. They settled there in 1991 when the island was covered in wild grass and inhabited by numerous birds and snakes. On the other hand, a fisherman from Uganda claims that he settled on Migingo in 2004, finding an empty house on the island. Subsequently, fishermen from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania started arriving on the island. Given its rich resources of Nile perch, in 2009, Kenyans claimed that the Nile perch belonged to them since it did not reproduce in Uganda. Despite the ongoing dispute, the residents of Migingo continue with their daily activities.
A census conducted by Kenya reported around 131 people living on the island, and it is estimated that the population has increased significantly since then. Due to its disputed status, both nations have agreed to share the island’s territory. Therefore, Kenyan and Ugandan people have to coexist on the tiny Migingo Island, which is smaller than half a football field. Even though they have agreed to share the space, small conflicts between them continue to occur.
