At 39, she has 38 children and is alone in supporting them

Mariam Nabatanzi lives with her children in four precarious houses / web

If anything is characterized, Uganda must have a high birth rate (5.6 children per woman), even for a continent where this indicator is high, such as the African. However, even in this context, the story of Ugandan Mariam Nabatanzi draws attention to the extreme. Does this 39-year-old woman already have 38 children after recording a multiple pregnancy sequence. And to top it off, she has to look after herself since her husband abandoned her.

The dramatic story of this woman, who lives with her children in four small houses built of cement blocks and corrugated tin roofs in a village surrounded by coffee fields 50 km north of Kampala, today touches on her family. the whole world.

Nabatanzi gave birth for the first time a year after her marriage, whereas she was only 12 years old. And he had twins. He was followed by five other pairs of twins, four of triplets and five of quadruplets.

Three years ago, her situation, complicated in itself, worsened when her husband left her with her 38 children.

Since then and desperate to get the money that allows him to support his family, Nabatanzi has done everything. She has worked as a hairdresser, decorating events, collecting and selling waste, making gin and selling medicinal herbs.

But all the money he earns vanishes quickly due to the high demand for food, medicine, clothing and school fees for his 38 children.

"All my life has taken care of my children and worked to earn money," Ugandan said.