In recent weeks, there has been increased interest by Ugandan men to confirm whether they are the biological fathers of the children in their lives.

Ascertaining this has led many to take a DNA paternity test, and from various reports, some have been disappointed with the results.

Appearing on Urban TV last month to discuss the subject, internal affairs ministry spokesperson Simon Mundeyi spoke of one man who took a DNA test here in Uganda. The results returned that he was not the biological father of any of his children.

Unconvinced, he decided to do confirmatory tests elsewhere.

"They took samples to South Africa, they took samples to Ottawa, Canada. When [the] results returned, we received from South Africa, they were confirming what was here. Zero children for him.

"We received [the results] from Canada, zero children for him.

"The man is disturbed. As I talk now, he has not gone back to work," said Mundeyi, who added that he is in regular touch with the distressed man.

But in all this, not everyone thinks taking a DNA test is a wise decision.

Norbert Mao, who is the justice minister and the leader of the Democratic Party, is one of them. According to him, it is all about faith and facts.

“I have been reading in the press about the increased number of men seeking DNA to ascertain the paternity of their children, but the issue of paternity is a matter of faith while maternity is a matter of fact,” he said on Friday.

Mao made the comments at Hotel Africana in Kampala while presiding over the launch of the user guide to the succession law in Uganda.

The guide was developed by the Uganda Law Reform Commission (ULRC).

The minister commended ULRC for coming up with the user guide on succession law and implored the entity to focus on community outreach and barazas across Uganda so that the ordinary citizens can appreciate the law.

“This user guide is very important, as it highlights and simplifies the key aspects of the succession law, which the lawyers don’t usually do,” said the minister.

Dr. Pamela Tibihikirra-Kalyegira, the ULRC chairperson, explained that the user guide is intended to simplify the succession law so that the ordinary people understand it easily.

She was keen to underline that the guide is not a substitute to the succession law.

Instead, "it is intended to provide the reader with basic information on matters concerning succession in the country".

The thematic areas covered in the guide include writing of a Will, administration of the estate for people who die intestate, distribution of property, guardianship, offences and penalties provided for under the law.

Dying intestate means one passing away not having made a Will.