Mariam Nabatanzi Babirye, widely known as the most fertile woman in the world, is a mother of 44 children, 38 of whom are still alive. Born around 1980 in Uganda, Mariam was forced into marriage at the tender age of 12. She became a mother for the first time at just 13, giving birth to a set of twins.
Mariam’s extraordinary fertility is due to hyper-ovulation, a rare genetic condition that causes her ovaries to produce multiple eggs at once, leading to multiple births. Over the years, she has given birth to many sets of twins, triplets and quadruplets. Tragically, six of her children have passed away, but her eldest is now 33 years old, and her youngest is just 8.
Her journey has been fraught with personal loss. Her own mother abandoned her along with her siblings only three days after her birth. By the age of seven, she had lost all her older siblings when her stepmother allegedly poisoned them by mixing cut glass into their food while she was away. In 1993, her father married her off to a 40-year-old man in exchange for livestock, subjecting her to years of abuse.
Even after enduring unimaginable challenges, Mariam’s resilience shines through. In 2015, her husband left the family, calling her “too fertile” and claiming he could not support the children, even as she was pregnant with another set of twins. In 2019, at the age of 40, Mariam underwent tubal ligation to prevent further pregnancies.
Today, Mariam provides for her large family largely on her own, relying heavily on donor support for essentials such as food, bedding and healthcare. She also works as a part-time tailor, hairdresser and herbalist. Despite the hardships, she consistently expresses love, pride and devotion toward her children.
Rightfully called “Mama Uganda,” Mariam is more than a record-breaking mother. She is a symbol of resilience, determination and unwavering maternal love- a truly extraordinary woman.
