A Ugandan man, Musa Hashaya, has called out for help following his inability to cater for his large family of 12 wives and over 100 children.
Referred to as Butaleja district’s most polygamous man, Hashaya, said the size of the family is now a burden due to the lack of resources to provide for his wives and numerous kids.
A businessman and a village chairperson for the last two decades, Hashaya is the current Busaba town council chairperson and the head of the Busaba sub-county Hunters Association.
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Hasahya has 12 wives, 102 children and 567 grandchildren with his youngest child aged six. Although only 98 of the 102 children are still alive.
With 35 of his sons already married with children, Hashaya has great-grandchildren scattered around the compound which can be mistaken for a refugee camp.
However, due to his inability to take care of them, two of his 12 wives recently fled, abandoning 10 children.
Hashaya’s marital adventure began age 16 after he dropped out of school in 1971 when he married Hanifa Hashaya and would go on to welcome their first daughter two years later in 1973.
Narrating his journey in a chat with newvision, Hashaya says he took more wives at the time because he could take care of them.
According to him, “Because I was able to earn something, I decided to expand my family by marrying more women. I ensured that hoes are provided for each of them to till the land and produce food enough to support the family since the soils are fertile.”
Higly respected at home and in the society, his wives, neighbours and community members see him a good man.
His first wife, Hanifa, refer to him as a lovely man while his second, Zabina Hasahya, respects him for treating his wives like his daughters.
Meanwhile, his elder daughter, Sanda Nabwire, describes him as a man who loves all his children and their mothers equally without discrimination.
According to the LCI general Secretary, Twaha Longhiro, “Being a former administrator, the man is tough and strict on discipline. He doesn’t tolerate any kind of queer behaviour in his family.”
As a system used to enforce discipline in his home, Hashaya, holds regular assembly where he does a roll call, listens to his children to understand their challenges and then counsels them accordingly.
Hashaya has public cried out for help, asking good and generous individuals to come to the aid of his kids.
“I cannot tolerate bearing children anymore because of the limited resources and on that note, I have advised all my wives of childbearing age to go for family planning. I also discourage those who wish to marry more than four wives not to do so because things are not good,” Hashaya said.
He acknowledged the assistance gotten from a Muslim community who drilled a borehole in his compound saving his children the stress of travelling long distances for water.
His plea includes education for kids and a decent apartment for him better than the one-roof housing all his wives.
77-year-old man with 7 wives and 30 children
Andrew Ouma, a 77-year-old man from Kenya, has revealed that he is happily married to seven wives.
According to Ouma, marrying more than one wife was a way of paying tribute to his mother, and it made him complete.
In an interview with Tuko.co.ke, Andrew, who has thirty children, revealed that he got married to his first wife in 1966 when he was 18 years old.
The man further disclosed that his wives were neighbours, and his mother approved of marrying them. He has also built houses for four of his wives, and three more are under construction for the remaining. He also gifted them with a parcel of land each.
