Tiny island is world's most crowded with 1,000 people living in cramped conditions
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Migingo Island, a tiny spit of land barely half an acre in size, is bustling with life as over 1,000 residents cram onto one of the world's most densely populated patches. Wedged on the northeastern fringes of Lake Victoria, straddling the border between Uganda and Kenya, Migingo has been at the heart of a tug-of-war for decades, with both nations laying claim to the minuscule territory.
Despite joint administration by the two countries, the island is so contentious it's earned the nickname Africa's "smallest war" among the locals. This is due to the spikes in cross-border friction. A young fisherman once confided to AFP about the underlying tensions, even though day-to-day life generally proceeds without incident.
A recent visitor to this packed paradise was Joe Hattab, a Dubai-based filmmaker, who navigated the challenging waters by boat to capture the essence of Migingo in a short film. During his visit, Hattab noted the communal harmony among Kenyans and Ugandans "hanging out together".
Originally just a dot in the lake, Migingo bloomed into a prime fishing hub when several fishermen, searching for the bountiful Nile perch pitched their nets there. This exploration was driven by the decline of fish stock in Lake Victoria, which profoundly impacted the coastal communities of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
What began as an untouched islet soon morphed into a hotspot teeming with fishermen from across East Africa – including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo – all seeking a share of Migingo's aquatic riches.
