Musa Hasahya Kasera, a Ugandan villager, has admitted that his family has grown so large that he can no longer remember the names of many of his children.
The 68-year-old, who lives in Bugisa village in eastern Uganda, says he is now overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for his massive household, which includes 12 wives, 102 children, and 578 grandchildren.
He revealed that what initially started as a cultural expectation and personal decision to expand his family has now become a burden.
With declining health and just two acres of land, Hasahya said providing basic needs like food, education, and clothing has become increasingly difficult, forcing two of his wives to leave him.
Now unemployed, Hasahya has become a curiosity in his community, attracting visitors who come to witness his extraordinary family size.
He disclosed that his wives are currently using contraceptives to prevent further expansion of the family, while he has also resolved not to have more children, admitting that he has learned from what he described as his “irresponsible” actions.
His large family lives in poor conditions, with some staying in a dilapidated house and others in about two dozen grass-thatched huts nearby.
He married his first wife in 1972 at the age of 17, and his first child was born a year later. According to him, he was encouraged by relatives and friends to marry multiple wives to grow his family lineage, especially due to his former status as a cattle trader and butcher.
Over the years, Hasahya married several wives, some of whom were reportedly given to him by villagers.
Today, his children range in age from 10 to 50, but he admits he can only remember the names of his first and last child, relying on their mothers to identify the others.
He also struggles to recall the names of some of his wives and often depends on one of his sons, a schoolteacher, to help manage family matters.
To maintain order, the family holds monthly meetings to resolve disputes.
Despite the challenges, a local official noted that Hasahya has managed to raise his children peacefully without major conflicts.
The family survives mainly through subsistence farming and doing small jobs for neighbours, while others fetch firewood and water over long distances.
Daily life at the compound is modest, with women engaging in activities like mat weaving and hair plaiting, while men gather to play cards. Meals are often limited, with family members sometimes eating only once a day.
Some of his wives have expressed regret, with one stating she would not have married him if she had known about the other wives.
Due to overcrowding, several wives now live separately in a nearby town, while others have left entirely.
Despite everything, Hasahya insists his wives remain with him out of love, even as he acknowledges the realities of raising such an extraordinarily large family and his decision to stop having more children.
—Source: intelregion.com
