Musa Hasahya Kasera, a 70-year-old villager from Mukiza in eastern Uganda, is grappling with the daunting responsibility of managing an enormous family—comprising 12 wives, 102 children, and 578 grandchildren. Despite the widespread admiration for his large family, Hasahya’s situation is far from idyllic as he faces daily struggles to provide for his sprawling household.
The story of Hasahya, who was dubbed ‘The Person Who Produced the Most Children in the World’ in a viral social media post, has drawn both praise and concern. While many joke about the magnitude of his family, others have expressed sympathy for the challenges he faces. One commenter humorously remarked, “Isko parivar kyun bolte ho? Zilla ghoshit kyun nahi kr dete?” (“Why call this a family? Why not declare him a district?”), while another quipped, “Mouj hai bhai ko” (“This guy is living the life”).
However, Hasahya’s reality is far more complex. His family tree began when he married his first wife at 17 in 1972. Over the years, his family grew rapidly, driven in part by his early status as a cattle trader and butcher. Villagers, impressed by his wealth, would offer their daughters in marriage. While polygamy is legal in Uganda under certain religious traditions, it wasn’t until 1995 that child marriage was officially banned in the country.
Today, Hasahya’s children, ranging in age from 10 to 50, add to the family’s ever-expanding size. His youngest wife, aged 35, continues to have children, further growing the family. However, keeping track of all his children is an impossible task for Hasahya, who admits to only remembering the names of his first and last-born children. His wives, who assist him in managing the family, also struggle with this challenge.
Despite the large family, Hasahya’s living conditions are far from comfortable. The family lives in a dilapidated house with a rusted roof, and they occupy several grass-thatched mud huts. Their two acres of land, once considered enough to support the growing family, now barely provide sustenance.
“We are barely making it,” says Zabina, Hasahya’s third wife. “The food is barely enough. We are forced to feed the children once or, on a good day, twice.” Many of the children and grandchildren spend their days doing chores for neighbors or gathering water and firewood from faraway sources. Yet, food scarcity remains a constant challenge, and hunger is a regular concern.
Hasahya himself acknowledges that his decisions in his earlier years have led to the current situation. “At first it was a joke, but now this has its problems,” he admits. His health is deteriorating, and the strain of managing such a large household has led to the departure of two of his wives.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Hasahya has maintained relative peace within his large family. He holds monthly family meetings to address conflicts and ensure that disputes are resolved. His son, Shaban Magino, a 30-year-old primary school teacher, also plays a key role in managing the family’s affairs, including ensuring that the younger generation receives an education.
“I try to help where I can,” says Magino. “But it’s not easy. Our lives are far from what you might consider comfortable.”
Local officials in Bugisa, a village of about 4,000 people, have acknowledged the difficulties Hasahya faces but also praise his ability to maintain harmony among his wives and children. A local administrator commented, “Despite the difficulties, he has brought up his children very well. There have been no major issues like theft or fighting.”
While some of Hasahya’s wives have become disillusioned by the overcrowding and limited resources, most of them continue to live in the homestead. However, two wives have left, and three others now reside in a nearby town due to the strain of living in such close quarters.
Hasahya’s story, a mixture of resilience, family unity, and struggle, shines a light on the complexities of large polygamous families in Uganda, where limited resources and overwhelming numbers create challenges that extend beyond mere logistics. Despite the hardships, Hasahya continues to hold his family together, facing the future with determination.
Sources By Agencies
