Mariam Nabatanzi, known as "Mama Uganda," holds the astonishing record of giving birth to 44 children by the age of 40, an event never seen before in modern medical history. Born around 1980 and forced into marriage at age 12, she had her first child, twins, at 13.
By age 36, she had delivered 44 children in just fifteen pregnancies — including four sets of twins, five sets of triplets, and five sets of quadruplets, plus only a single birth once. Her condition is attributed to rare genetic "hyper-ovulation," meaning her body naturally released multiple eggs per cycle, resulting in a remarkably high rate of multiples.
Tragically, six of Mariam's children passed away in infancy, but she continues to care for her surviving 38 children, balancing her duties alone after her husband abandoned the family and took all their money.
Mariam's feat is considered unparalleled in the world today — while historical accounts mention the Russian woman Mrs. Vassilyeva giving birth to 69 children in the 18th century, Mariam's case is the largest documented in recent history with full medical records.
Despite never using birth control due to the dangers it posed to her health, Mariam’s story has drawn global attention to issues of reproductive health, genetic conditions, and the social challenges faced by mothers of large families. Her children are split evenly between boys and girls, and the family is now supported by community donations and international interest.