Musa Hasahya Kasera, a 70-year-old man from Mukiza in eastern Uganda, has a unique and huge family. He has 12 wives, 102 children, and 578 grandchildren, making him famous for this astonishing number! Recently, his story went viral online, with many people sharing their thoughts. Some joked, saying he should be called a district instead of just a family!
How It All Started
Musa began his family journey when he married his first wife at just 17 years old in 1972. Over the years, as his reputation as a cattle trader grew, many village families offered their daughters to him. In Uganda, polygamy (having more than one wife) is allowed by some traditional beliefs. His first child was born just a year after his marriage, and now his kids’ ages range from 10 to 50 years old! His youngest wife, now 35, welcomed more children. Despite having many family members, he admits it’s hard to remember everyone’s name.
Challenges of a Large Family
Life for Musa is not easy. He lives in a run-down house and several small huts. His two acres of land can barely provide enough food. His third wife, Zabina, shares their struggles, saying, “We can only feed the kids once a day, sometimes twice if we are lucky.” Many of the children help out by doing chores for neighbors or fetching water, but often there’s not enough food, leading to hunger.
Musa understands that having so many children has brought its problems. He has faced health issues, and sadly, two of his wives have left. To keep things organized, he has family meetings once a month to settle disputes. His son, Shaban Magino, helps manage everyday life and tries to ensure that the younger children get an education.
Wives’ Feelings
His wives often feel the strain of living in such a big family. Two have moved away because of the tight conditions, and some wished they had known about other wives before marrying Musa. Zabina admitted, “I didn’t know about the other wives when I first married him. If I had, I might not have married him.” Yet, Musa believes his wives are happy and love him.
Deciding Not to Expand
Musa has taken steps to stop having more children. His wives now use contraceptives so they won’t have any more kids. Musa learned from his past decisions. He said, “I can’t take care of any more children.”
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