The tiny island sits on the the border between Uganda and Kenya.
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When you think of crowded places, cities like Paris, Rome, and New York might pop into your head, but there's a tiny island that outdoes them all in terms of density.
Nestled in Africa's Lake Victoria lies Migingo Island, which is incredibly small—seriously, it's tiny.
This speck of land covers less than half an acre. Just for a bit of context, that's about equivalent to half a standard soccer field.
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Migingo Island, a small, rocky outcrop densely packed with metallic shacks, emerges from Lake Victoria resembling an iron-clad turtle.
This island has been at the center of a tense dispute between Uganda and Kenya for over a decade.
Migingo Island is home to over 500 people.
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images
Described as the potential spark for Africa's 'smallest war,' the island's jurisdiction remains contested, despite its modest size.
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The island is a hive of activity with its narrow lanes between corrugated-iron homes, bustling bars, brothels, and a tiny port serving as the community's economic backbone.
Despite its cramped conditions, Migingo is a pivotal fishing hub.
The waters around the island are rich with Nile Perch, a valuable catch that has remained abundant even as other fishing areas around Lake Victoria have dwindled.
Historically, Migingo was barely a blip on the map, recognized as part of Kenya until the early 2000s.
However, its prominence rose when Ugandan authorities began to notice the lucrative fishing activities.
They sent officials to tax fishermen and provide protection against piracy, which sparked a major conflict with Kenyan fishermen.
These fishermen accused the Ugandans of overstepping boundaries and forcefully evicting them from their own waters, which led to both nations nearly coming to blows in 2009.
The tiny island is less than 0.5 acres in size.
Recep Canik/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The population of Migingo has surged from 131 in 2009 to around 500, transforming the island into a densely populated enclave.
Isaac Buhinza, a 22-year-old from Uganda, is among those who came to Migingo drawn by tales of prosperity.
"I do not know which country this (island) belongs to, I just stay here," he said, reflecting a common sentiment among the island's residents.
For fishermen like Buhinza, living on Migingo saves on fuel costs and provides direct access to wholesale buyers, enhancing their earnings significantly.
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Efforts to define the watery border between Kenya and Uganda have stagnated, leaving the island co-managed by both countries—a situation that has seen its share of friction.
Recent tensions flared when Kenya attempted to hoist its flag on the island, which had previously only displayed the Ugandan flag.
This action provoked a strong response from Ugandan authorities, leading to a brief period of heightened security presence and community unease.
On the environmental front, Lake Victoria has faced significant ecological challenges.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in the last four decades, the lake has lost up to 80 percent of its indigenous fish species and 70 percent of its forest cover.
The invasive water hyacinth has also proliferated, creating additional hurdles for local fishermen.
A woman cleans her bar on Migingo Island.
YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images
Local politics continue to play a significant role in the Migingo saga.
Kenyan politicians have urged their government to seek international adjudication to resolve the border issue definitively, but these calls have yet to lead to action.
Patrick Mugoya, a senior official in Uganda's foreign ministry, emphasized the practical necessity of clear demarcation:
"What matters now is not about the claims by either side, but the need to demarcate the place properly so that the border lines are clear."
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Residents, meanwhile, maintain a sense of camaraderie amid the dispute.
Fishermen from both Kenya and Uganda often exchange playful banter about the island's allegiance, reflecting a community more concerned with daily survival than political affiliations.
"These are all political issues, and we just want to sell our fish," says Kenyan fisherman Emmanuel Aringo, summing up the prevailing local perspective.
In a 2018 interview with The Guardian, local resident Isaac Buhinza mentioned he moved to Migingo because 'my friends who were here before used to come back home with lots of goodies' from their fishing ventures.
Fishing opportunities draws people to the island.
YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images
Living directly on the island saves fishermen the cost of fuel and provides them direct access to fish buyers.
It's believed that fishermen can earn a decent income from catching Nile perch, especially since the price of this fish has increased by 50 percent in recent years (as of 2019).
Kennedy Ochieng, a Kenyan fisherman, told Al Jazeera that high-quality, large fish could fetch upwards of $300 per kg on the international market.
While Nile perch is still plentiful near Migingo, other fish populations have significantly declined.