Family & Parenting
Kafeero DNA saga: Govt to send samples abroad for confirmatory testing
Local government minister Balaam Barugahara said on Saturday (June 27) that the samples would be sent to South Africa or the UK with the help of the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Latest DNA test results confirmed the only four (pictured) out of the 25 claimants are Kafeero's biological children. (Credit: Eddie Ssejjoba)
By: Umar Kashaka, Journalist @New Vision
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The Ugandan government will send DNA samples from the late singer Paul Kafeero and his supposed 25 children abroad for confirmatory paternity testing.
Local government minister Balaam Barugahara said on Saturday (June 27) that the samples would be sent to South Africa or the UK with the help of the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
This is in light of considerable controversy caused by the latest DNA test results that confirmed only four out of the 25 claimants are Kafeero's biological children.
This latest DNA testing was carried out by government forensic experts.
"With help from General @mkainerugaba, we shall send the samples to South Africa or UK for confirmatory test, and that will be done soon. Thank you for your attention to this Kafeero matter," Barugahara posted on social media platform X.
On Friday, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa proposed that Kafeero’s brothers take DNA tests to identify the fathers of the 21 children determined not to belong to the fallen Kadongo Kamu star.
Some of them bear a striking resemblance to the Afro-folk singer, who died in May 2007 at the age of 36.
The lingering question has since been: what next for the 21 claimants?
“I propose we go ahead and do DNA [tests] with the rest of Kafeero’s brothers to close this chapter,” Tayebwa told Barugahara in a post on X.
"With help from General @mkainerugaba, we shall send the samples to South Africa or UK for confirmatory test, and that will be done soon. Thank you for your attention to this Kafeero matter," Barugahara posted on social media platform X.
On Friday, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa proposed that Kafeero’s brothers take DNA tests to identify the fathers of the 21 children determined not to belong to the fallen Kadongo Kamu star.
Some of them bear a striking resemblance to the Afro-folk singer, who died in May 2007 at the age of 36.
The lingering question has since been: what next for the 21 claimants?
“I propose we go ahead and do DNA [tests] with the rest of Kafeero’s brothers to close this chapter,” Tayebwa told Barugahara in a post on X.
He reasoned that the close resemblance between the late celebrated singer and some of his supposed children cannot be wished away.
In fact, one of those claimants is also called Paul Kafeero.
“Total closure of this matter is needed, especially for those children who are total photocopies of the late. Who fathered them? I trust you on handling such complicated matters and I’m sure you will handle,” Tayebwa told the minister who led efforts to settle a paternity case involving Kafeero’s 25 supposed children.
The four confirmed children are Simon Peter Kafeero, Thomas Kafeero aka Swazi, Bendict Kafeero and Elizabeth Nagawa.
In an earlier post on X, Tayebwa said: “I do not doubt science but if this gentleman (Paul Kafeero) is not Paul Kafeero’s son, then we might need to do DNA of our parents when they’re still alive.”
Barugahara, who launched these efforts when he was still serving as youth and children affairs state minister, agreed with the Deputy Speaker.
“Better, my brother Rt. Hon. @Thomas_Tayebwa," he responded.
The minister noted that three independent laboratories confirmed “this fact” that only the afore-mentioned four children belong to the late singer.
The three laboratories are; MBN Laboratory, Police Forensic Laboratory and Government Analytical Laboratory.
“These [DNA test results] are verified findings…” added Barugahara.
Sejusa weighs in
The former co-ordinator of intelligence services, Gen. (rtd) David Sejusa, also weighed in on the controversy caused by the latest DNA test results, with a suggestion that the samples be sent to South Africa for a second opinion.
“Yes, I believe in science/DNA, but we need to be very careful. Yes, science has spoken, but we also know what corruption has done to this country. If corruption reigns in churches, parliament, ministries, even State House, etc, why can’t it be in that DNA department?”
He argued that it was surprising that some of 21 children do not belong to Kafeero and yet there is a striking resemblance between them.
“And I’m not accusing anyone there of corruption, but just raising a commonsense point… I would, therefore, recommend a stay of that process and the results are sent to South Africa for second opinion. It does no harm at all; just another one month,” Sejusa said in a post on X.
Early this month, a team of pathologists led by Dr Moses Byaruhanga, the government chief pathologist, exhumed Kafeero’s body in Nkokonjeru town council, Buikwe district, to extract DNA to settle this long-standing paternity dispute.
In fact, one of those claimants is also called Paul Kafeero.
“Total closure of this matter is needed, especially for those children who are total photocopies of the late. Who fathered them? I trust you on handling such complicated matters and I’m sure you will handle,” Tayebwa told the minister who led efforts to settle a paternity case involving Kafeero’s 25 supposed children.
The four confirmed children are Simon Peter Kafeero, Thomas Kafeero aka Swazi, Bendict Kafeero and Elizabeth Nagawa.
In an earlier post on X, Tayebwa said: “I do not doubt science but if this gentleman (Paul Kafeero) is not Paul Kafeero’s son, then we might need to do DNA of our parents when they’re still alive.”
Barugahara, who launched these efforts when he was still serving as youth and children affairs state minister, agreed with the Deputy Speaker.
“Better, my brother Rt. Hon. @Thomas_Tayebwa," he responded.
The minister noted that three independent laboratories confirmed “this fact” that only the afore-mentioned four children belong to the late singer.
The three laboratories are; MBN Laboratory, Police Forensic Laboratory and Government Analytical Laboratory.
“These [DNA test results] are verified findings…” added Barugahara.
Sejusa weighs in
The former co-ordinator of intelligence services, Gen. (rtd) David Sejusa, also weighed in on the controversy caused by the latest DNA test results, with a suggestion that the samples be sent to South Africa for a second opinion.
“Yes, I believe in science/DNA, but we need to be very careful. Yes, science has spoken, but we also know what corruption has done to this country. If corruption reigns in churches, parliament, ministries, even State House, etc, why can’t it be in that DNA department?”
He argued that it was surprising that some of 21 children do not belong to Kafeero and yet there is a striking resemblance between them.
“And I’m not accusing anyone there of corruption, but just raising a commonsense point… I would, therefore, recommend a stay of that process and the results are sent to South Africa for second opinion. It does no harm at all; just another one month,” Sejusa said in a post on X.
Early this month, a team of pathologists led by Dr Moses Byaruhanga, the government chief pathologist, exhumed Kafeero’s body in Nkokonjeru town council, Buikwe district, to extract DNA to settle this long-standing paternity dispute.