Parenthood is a beautiful journey, but it comes with its fair share of challenges and expenses. From providing food and clothing to education and entertainment, raising children requires a considerable amount of money. As an American, we are used to having just a few children in our families. But what about families with dozens of children?

In Uganda, where polygamy is legal, one man has taken full advantage of this opportunity. Musa Hasahya doesn’t just have two or three wives like most polygamists. He currently has 12 wives! Can you imagine the size of his family?

In Uganda, the use of birth control is considered taboo and believed to promote promiscuity. None of Hasahya’s wives were on birth control during their marriages, resulting in the birth of multiple children. In fact, Hasahya has a staggering 102 children, ranging in age from 6 to 51. On top of that, he also has 568 grandchildren!

But recently, Hasahya has decided that he doesn’t want any more children. And it’s not just because he has reached the number 102. His reason is much more practical – the rising cost of living.

Hasahya revealed, “My income has been decreasing over the years due to the rising cost of living, and my family has been growing larger and larger.” This realization has led him to make a difficult decision.

One of his wives, Zulaika, who is about 20 years younger than his oldest child, has given birth to 11 of his children. However, she has decided not to have any more children. Zulaika shared, “I’ve seen our challenging financial situation and have started taking birth control to prevent further pregnancies.”

Hasahya, who is a farmer, now faces the added burden of inflation, making it even harder to support his extremely large family. Around one third of his children currently live with him on the farm, along with all his wives in one house.

He explained, “Having all my wives live together in the same house makes it easier for me to monitor them and prevent them from eloping with other men in the village.” However, due to his declining health, Hasahya is no longer able to work, placing even more strain on his financial situation. In fact, two of his wives have reportedly left him because of these difficulties.

Financial strains aside, there are other challenges that come with having such a large family. Hasahya admits that he doesn’t even know all of his children’s names.

Parenthood is a precious experience, but it’s important to be financially prepared for the responsibilities that come with it. Hasahya’s story serves as a reminder of the costs and challenges of raising a big family. It’s a decision that should be made considering both emotional fulfillment and financial stability.

Ultimately, every family has its own unique circumstances and reasons for the number of children they have. In Hasahya’s case, the rising cost of living has made him realize that enough is enough.