Migingo Island, located in Lake Victoria in Africa, was previously subject to a low-level territorial dispute between Kenya and Uganda. The conflict through Migingo Island is known as the “minimum war” of the world due to the small size of the island and the lack of conflict strength.
A small plot of land – about half an acre – is a highly regarded base because it is located within a rich fishing grounds. The profitable Nile perch trade – priced at over $300 per kilogram in the global market – has transformed the island into a hotbed of activity. This led to concerns about overfishing in the world's largest tropical lake.
It currently lives inhabits a fluctuating population of around 500 people, featuring a maze of corrugated structures scattered around it. The makeshift building created a series of small alleys and boulevards on land that could be successfully navigated on foot within ten minutes.
The boat-rised island also houses home to hair salons, bars and several brothels, reports Kagami. Migingo is so small that it is not disclosed on many maps. It has been previously reported that the island was underwater until the 1990s, but this is contested. Many Miggingo fishermen prefer to fish at night as their current lake activity is much less crowded than during the day.
The island is about 2,000 square meters in size and has a population density of about 250,000 people per square kilometre. In comparison, Hong Kong has a population density of around 7,400, but some parts of Hong Kong have a much higher population density. The majority of people living in Migingo are Kenyan, but it also includes a significant Ugandan population of about 20%.
Miggingo is actually one of three small islands close to each other. The much larger island is 200 meters east, with the largest of the three pyramid islands being two kilometers south of Migingo and 11 kilometers north of Lake Victoria's Tanzania border.
Living in a convulsive space is considered difficult with limited sanitary facilities available on rocky outcrops. The small island's running water and lack of harsh living conditions compares with Kibera, a Kenya slum considered one of Africa's biggest.
It is also reported that pirates are constantly on the side of the island's inhabitants. They steal fish, cash and boat engines from fishermen.
The island does not have a permanent traditional police presence and instead relies on a community-based judicial system. Some residents allegedly relied on paying “protection tax” to the maritime police to halt or block pirate activities affecting Migingo.
Many of the island's fishermen do not own the boats they run, and instead pay large fees to owners, which are primarily located on the mainland. The report says the fees are up to 80% of catches carried by fishermen from the lake, and could be a tough one for workers.
