Uganda’s Family Phenomenon: Meet the Man with 102 Children and a Village-Sized Legacy
In the quiet village of Mukiza in eastern Uganda, 70-year-old Musa Hasahya Kasera faces a daily challenge that few could imagine: providing for a family of 12 wives, 102 children, and 578 grandchildren. His story has recently captured global attention, sparking discussions about family, responsibility, and the complexities of managing what amounts to a small community.
From prosperity to struggle
Hasahya’s journey into polygamy began in 1972 when he married his first wife at age 17. As a successful cattle trader and butcher, his prosperity attracted many families who offered their daughters in marriage, a practice that was legal under Uganda’s religious traditions until child marriage was banned in 1995.
The family grew steadily over the decades, with children now ranging from 10 to 50 years old. His youngest wife, now 35, contributed to what would become one of the world’s largest documented family units. “I can only remember the names of my first and last born, but some of the others… I can’t recall their names,” Hasahya admitted, relying on notebooks to track his extensive family tree.
Daily challenges
Life for this extraordinary family is far from easy. They inhabit a collection of grass-thatched mud huts surrounding a dilapidated main house with a rusting roof. The family’s two-acre plot of land, once sufficient for their needs, now barely provides enough food for daily sustenance.
“We are barely making it,” explained 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 family members perform odd jobs for neighbors or spend their days collecting water and firewood from distant sources.
To maintain order among his extensive clan, Hasahya holds monthly family meetings to resolve disputes. His son Shaban Magino, a 30-year-old primary school teacher, assists in managing family affairs and prioritizing education for the younger generation.
Local officials in Bugisa, their village of 4,000 residents, acknowledge the family’s challenges while commending Hasahya’s ability to maintain relative peace among his numerous wives and children. “Despite the difficulties, he has brought up his children very well,” noted a local administrator.
While most of Hasahya’s wives remain in the homestead, the strain has led to some departures. Two wives have left entirely, and three others have relocated to a nearby town. Zabina, one of his wives, shared her perspective: “I never knew he had other wives when I first married him. If I had, I might not have agreed to marry him. But when I came, he just kept bringing more wives, until he had 12.”
A chapter closes
Recognizing the unsustainability of further growth, Hasahya has taken steps to prevent his family from expanding. His wives now use contraception, a decision reflecting his acknowledgment of past choices. “I have learned my lesson,” Hasahya reflected. “I do not expect more children. I can’t look after anymore.”
