How to live on the most populous island in the world, which is smaller than a football field

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Migingo is a tiny African island located in the waters of Lake Victoria. Its modest area is equal to half of a football field, and its population does not exceed one and a half hundred people. The island is a disputed territory, which allows it to be proudly called autonomy. Only the payment for such apparent independence is prohibitively high for the islanders.

For the past twenty years, Migingo has been the subject of heated territorial disputes between Uganda and neighboring Kenya. Because of this conflict, neither of the two countries can include it in their composition. Migingo imagines itself as an autonomous territory, and as a result, the island pays taxes to the budgets of both these countries at the same time. In fact, this island is a social, environmental and political precedent in world history.

Even in such conditions and with exorbitant taxes, the income of the islanders is several times higher than that of their mainland fellow citizens. Recently, large international corporations have begun to take over local businesses and crowd out small fishermen. Now their income is not as great as before.

In the mid-sixties of the last century, Nile perch began to be bred in Lake Victoria. Such intervention rather quickly led to the fact that about two hundred species of smaller fish disappeared in the reservoir. Nile perch has become the region's main export commodity over time. This brought its own adjustments to the local economic situation. Now large corporations have almost pushed local fishermen out of this market, putting them in the position of economic refugees. The once well-to-do class is now on the brink of survival. This is such a high price for what we are used to seeing on our table every day.

Of course, by local standards, the earnings of fishermen are considered quite large when compared with earnings on the mainland. In addition, they earn cash, which is also important. The island has a primitive infrastructure that makes life there, albeit not comfortable, but bearable. After all, a person is such a creature who gets used to everything …

The territory of Migingo Island and, accordingly, fishing rights have long been the subject of heated disputes and disagreements between Kenya and Uganda. And although Migingo is considered to be a Kenyan island, the Ugandan police station is located and functions on it.

The police keep order very carefully and strictly. Strangers are of particular interest to local authorities. Police officers follow the visitors literally on their heels. Tracking who strangers talked to, what they asked about. Many fishermen complain that cops often steal their catch.

Due to such actions, the atmosphere on the island is very tense, and the locals are very withdrawn and very reluctant to enter into a conversation. Perhaps they are so incredulous, or maybe they are simply too absorbed in their problems, which, of course, they have a lot.

Migingo is a unique territorial community, where there are as many as four brothels, but not a single hospital! With such a device, it is not surprising that all the hard-earned money goes to corrupt women and intoxicants. The island even has a local elite. These are two enterprising comrades who came here from the mainland. Joseph Nsubuga from Uganda and Leonard Obala from Kenya were at the forefront and are now fabulously wealthy by local standards. Joseph owns all the houses on the island, and Leonard owns all the boats.

Most often, single people move here, but sometimes families are also found. It is very sad that life here does not feel like something pleasant. There are no doctors here, only pharmacists. The worst and most common disease among the islanders is AIDS. People die from it here in batches. In general, Migingo is by no means an earthly paradise and certainly not quite suitable for married couples with children.

The most populous island on Earth has its own rules. Pathetic shacks, boats, thirteen bars and four brothels … Not a dream, exactly.

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