Migingo Island is a small, densely populated island in Lake Victoria, located at the border between Kenya and Uganda. It has been a subject of dispute between the two countries due to its rich fishing grounds and unclear territorial boundaries.
The island is home to around 131 fishing structures ( according to 2009 census) and is inhabited by fishermen from both Kenya and Uganda and has only 0.0008sq MI of dirt. Despite its small size (about half an acre), it has been a source of tension between the two nations.
Migingo Island hosts a variable population of approximately 500 individuals. Its remarkable density has earned it the distinction of being the world’s most densely populated island.
Once submerged before the 1990s, Migingo emerged as Lake Victoria receded, revealing the outcrop that is now Migingo Island.
Because the island is positioned within a lake shared by three nations, it has become a focal point of territorial disputes between Kenya and Uganda, emerging precisely on the border of the two countries. This has led to a geopolitical struggle, prompting an increased presence of security forces from both sides on the island and in the surrounding waters.
Despite its diminutive size (one can circumnavigate it in under 10 minutes), Migingo Island’s true value lies beneath the surface—the lake’s depths harbor a bounty of Nile perch, transforming the island into a fishing epicenter.
Over the past half-decade, Nile perch prices have surged by 50%, with premium catches fetching up to $300 for 2 pounds—a lucrative source of income for local fishermen.
However, the rush for Nile perch has also attracted trouble, with residents enduring constant threats from pirates who pilfer fish, cash, engines, and any other valuable items they can lay their hands on.