The Tiny Peaceful Fishing Island of Migingo

Published October 23rd, 2018 - 07:22 GMT

A rounded rocky outcrop covered in metallic shacks, Migingo Island rises out of the waters of Lake Victoria like an iron-plated turtle.

Nevertheless for over a decade Migingo has been a source of tension between Uganda and Kenya, who have been unable to decide to whom it really belongs.

This is Lake Victoria, near Kenya: 500 people live on Migingo Island. Land half the size of a football pitch. The densely-populated island is barely a quarter of a hectare large, its residents crammed into a hodge-podge of corrugated-iron homes. It has has four bars, a hair salon and several brothels. After many thousands of years, this is how advanced they have become.

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A woman holds her baby on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

Women gather together on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

A woman prepares Ugali, a typical local food made of maize flour, on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows a general view of Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows fishermen preparing their nets on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

A woman cuts and clean Nile Perches to be cooked on October 5, 2018 on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows dried Nile Perches on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows dried Nile Perches on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

Fishermen prepare their nets aboard their boats on October 5, 2018 on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows a newly-built tin roof shining on top of Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

A woman holds her baby on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
Women gather together on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A woman prepares Ugali, a typical local food made of maize flour, on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows a general view of Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows fishermen preparing their nets on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A woman cuts and clean Nile Perches to be cooked on October 5, 2018 on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows dried Nile Perches on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows dried Nile Perches on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
Fishermen prepare their nets aboard their boats on October 5, 2018 on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya.
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows a newly-built tin roof shining on top of Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A woman holds her baby on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A woman holds her baby on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
Women gather together on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
Women gather together on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A woman prepares Ugali, a typical local food made of maize flour, on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A woman prepares Ugali, a typical local food made of maize flour, on Migingo island on October 5, 2018 which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows a general view of Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows a general view of Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows fishermen preparing their nets on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows fishermen preparing their nets on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A woman cuts and clean Nile Perches to be cooked on October 5, 2018 on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A woman cuts and clean Nile Perches to be cooked on October 5, 2018 on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows dried Nile Perches on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows dried Nile Perches on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows dried Nile Perches on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows dried Nile Perches on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
Fishermen prepare their nets aboard their boats on October 5, 2018 on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya.
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
Fishermen prepare their nets aboard their boats on October 5, 2018 on Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows a newly-built tin roof shining on top of Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. 
Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP
A picture taken on October 5, 2018, shows a newly-built tin roof shining on top of Migingo island which is densely populated by residents fishing mainly for Nile perch in Lake Victoria on the border of Uganda and Kenya. Yasuyoshi CHIBA / AFP

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