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Migingo is a tiny rock island, less than half-an-acre
or about half the size of a football field, located in Lake Victoria,
the largest lake in Africa and the largest tropical lake in the world.
Although tiny in size, the island is home to 131 people (according to
2009 census) living in crammed huts made of corrugated sheets and wood.
Despite shabby living conditions, Migingo Island boasts of five bars, a
beauty salon, a pharmacy as well as several hotels and numerous
brothels.
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Most of island’s inhabitants are fishermen and fish traders. The first
to arrive were two Kenyan fishermen, Dalmas Tembo and George Kibebe, who
claimed to have settled there in 1991. At that time, the island was
covered with weeds and infested with birds and snakes. They were later
joined by 60 members of their fishing group who followed after receiving
information that the area was rich with Nile Perch.
Subsequently, other fishermen from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania came to
the island turning it into a thriving commercial center.
The island is a beehive of activities as more than 100 boats bring in
their catch every morning for weighing and sale to buyers. After being
bought by fish processing firms they are transported to the Kenyan
mainland, from where it’s exported to the European Union and beyond. The
coveted Nile Perch is central to a multi-million dollar fishing industry
vital for the economy of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
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The rich stock of Nile Perch in the waters around Migingo Island has
lead to territorial dispute between the two countries – Uganda and
Kenya, both of which lay claim to the island. Technically, Migingo
Island belongs to Kenya, being inside the country’s international border
and is also marked so on maps and official documents. In 2009, the
Ugandan government claimed that Migingo Island is in Ugandan waters and
that it is therefore illegal for Kenyans to fish there.
Trouble started when pirates first heard that fishermen were making $300
a day, which was approximately three or four times what many people in
East Africa earn in an entire month on dry land, they flocked to the
island and stole fish, cash and engines. The fishermen called upon their
governments for help in 2009 with the Ugandans being first to respond by
sending maritime police.
Upon arrival, the Ugandans raised their flag and slowly began to exploit
the fishermen who had made their home on the tiny island. Entry permits
and taxes were introduced on fishermen that hoped to cash in on the
newly discovered fishing grounds. Boats and fishing nets belonging to
Kenyan fishermen are regularly confiscated by Ugandan forces for fishing
on Uganda’s territorial waters.
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The ownership dispute is yet to be resolved.
Interestingly, there is a much larger island called Usingo just 200
meters to the east of Migingo Island that remains uninhabited. |