In the rural village of Bugisa, located in Uganda’s Butaleja District, 68-year-old Musa Hasahya Kasera has decided to stop expanding his already vast family. Having fathered 102 children with 12 wives and now a grandfather to 578 grandchildren, Kasera cites financial difficulties as the primary reason for his decision.
“At first it was a joke… but now this has its problems,” Kasera remarked, highlighting the challenges of providing for such a large family on limited resources. With only two acres of land and declining health, he finds it increasingly difficult to meet basic needs like food, education, and clothing. Two of his wives have already left due to these hardships, and three others live separately to alleviate overcrowding at the homestead .
Kasera, who is currently unemployed, has become somewhat of a local attraction, with visitors curious about his extensive family. To prevent further growth, he has encouraged his wives to use contraceptives. “My wives are on contraceptives but I am not. I don’t expect to have more children because I have learnt from my irresponsible act of producing so many children that I can’t look after,” he admitted .
The family’s living conditions are modest, with many residing in a dilapidated house or in about two dozen grass-thatched mud huts nearby. Despite the challenges, Kasera maintains monthly family meetings to resolve disputes and keep the household organized. His son, Shaban Magino, a 30-year-old primary school teacher, assists in managing the family’s affairs .
Polygamy is legally recognized in Uganda, and while Kasera’s situation is extraordinary, it underscores the complexities and responsibilities that come with large polygamous families, especially in resource-limited settings.
