Musa Hasahya Kasera, a 70-year-old man from Mukiza village in eastern Uganda, is making headlines for his extraordinary family life. With 12 wives, 102 children, and 578 grandchildren, Kasera's family has become one of the largest and most talked-about in the world. His story recently went viral on social media, where some have even called him "The Person Who Produced the Most Children in the World." However, behind the numbers, Kasera's life is filled with challenges, as he struggles to support such a large household.

Kasera’s life took a significant turn in 1972 when, at just 17 years old, he entered into marriage with his first wife, marking the beginning of his long and complex journey. Over the years, his family grew rapidly, fueled by his work as a cattle trader and butcher. Villagers often offered their daughters to him for marriage. Although polygamy was legal in Uganda under certain religious traditions, it became officially banned in 1995. Kasera’s children now range from 10 to 50 years old, with his youngest wife, just 35 years old, still contributing to the growing family.

Although Kasera has a large family, his living situation is challenging, and he faces numerous difficulties that make his daily life less than comfortable. He resides in a run-down house with a rusting roof, and his family occupies several mud huts with grass-thatched roofs nearby. His two acres of land, once enough to sustain them, now barely meet their basic needs. His third wife, Zabina, shared that food is scarce, and on good days, they can only feed the children once or twice. To help, many of the children and grandchildren do chores for neighbors or fetch water and firewood from distant areas.

Kasera himself acknowledges the difficulties that come with his decision to have such a large family. "At first, it was a joke... but now this has its problems," he admitted. As his health deteriorates, the strain of managing such a large household has led to the departure of two of his wives.

To maintain peace and manage the complex family dynamics, Kasera holds monthly family meetings to address conflicts. His 30-year-old son, Shaban Magino, who works as a primary school teacher, helps manage the household and ensures the younger generation receives some education. Local officials in Bugisa village have noted that, despite the challenges, Kasera has managed to raise his children well and maintain peace within the family. 

Kasera has now taken steps to prevent the further expansion of his family. His wives are using contraceptives to avoid having more children, a decision he says he made after reflecting on his past actions. "I have learned my lesson," he said. "I do not expect more children. I can’t look after any more."