Family & Parenting
Minister urges young men to 'zip up' amid rising DNA paternity disputes
Balaam Barugahara urged young people, especially men, to practice sexual responsibility and make choices that protect their health and future.
Local government minister Balaam Barugahara. (File photo)
By: John Odyek, Journalist @New Vision
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Local government minister Balaam Barugahara has said the growing number of DNA paternity tests have revealed that many children are not biologically related to the men raising them.
"I am appealing to young people to zip up. Young men should stop having uncontrolled sex with any women they find," he said on Tuesday this week in Kampala.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre, the former youth and children affairs state minister was responding to questions about the controversy surrounding the estate of the late Kadongo Kamu musician Paul Job Kafeero.
The debate over DNA testing in Uganda has intensified following a rise in paternity disputes. Media reports and high-profile court cases have fuelled public discussion about trust within families, paternity, inheritance and the emotional impact of disputed parentage on children.
Barugahara said that during his previous ministerial tenure, he supervised 250 DNA paternity tests, with 238 returning negative results."
He said many of the cases involved men who had accepted responsibility for children, only for DNA results to show they were not the biological fathers.
"The men were not the fathers of the babies. But these men were struggling and being harassed every day to raise the children."
Referring to the Kafeero estate dispute, Barugahara said DNA testing was conducted after competing claims over the estate of the legendary musician, who died in 2007 at the age of 36.
Twenty-five claimants underwent testing, and only four were confirmed to be the biological children of the late musician.
The minister said one young man strongly resembled Kafeero and had publicly claimed to be his son, but DNA testing established that he was not biologically related to the musician.
Barugahara said that during his previous ministerial tenure, he supervised 250 DNA paternity tests, with 238 returning negative results."
He said many of the cases involved men who had accepted responsibility for children, only for DNA results to show they were not the biological fathers.
"The men were not the fathers of the babies. But these men were struggling and being harassed every day to raise the children."
Referring to the Kafeero estate dispute, Barugahara said DNA testing was conducted after competing claims over the estate of the legendary musician, who died in 2007 at the age of 36.
Twenty-five claimants underwent testing, and only four were confirmed to be the biological children of the late musician.
The minister said one young man strongly resembled Kafeero and had publicly claimed to be his son, but DNA testing established that he was not biologically related to the musician.
Barugahara said he engaged the District Community Development Officer (DCDO) to explore ways of supporting the claimants who were not confirmed as Kafeero's biological children.
He said financial assistance had been provided and that another meeting would be held to consider further support, including helping them establish businesses or construct houses.
He said he had discussed the issue with the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to see what they can do for the children whose results returned negative.
Barugahara urged the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Gen. Henry Tumukunde, to continue the DNA testing work initiated under the ministry.
He said the government had no dedicated budget for DNA testing during his tenure, but funds were allocated to facilitate the 250 tests carried out.
To curb public anxiety and prevent unregulated operators from exploiting the demand for paternity testing, Barugahara said the government has restricted authorised DNA paternity testing to two accredited institutions: the Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory (DGAL) and MBN Clinical Laboratories.
He said the government has prohibited the use of home-based or rapid DNA testing kits and has relied on the Uganda Police Force forensic laboratory to support DNA investigations where necessary.
The growing number of paternity disputes has prompted legal debate over whether men who discover they are not the biological fathers of children they have raised should be allowed to seek legal redress.
Legal experts are examining options that could permit claims for damages in cases involving false paternity.
He said financial assistance had been provided and that another meeting would be held to consider further support, including helping them establish businesses or construct houses.
He said he had discussed the issue with the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to see what they can do for the children whose results returned negative.
Barugahara urged the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Gen. Henry Tumukunde, to continue the DNA testing work initiated under the ministry.
He said the government had no dedicated budget for DNA testing during his tenure, but funds were allocated to facilitate the 250 tests carried out.
To curb public anxiety and prevent unregulated operators from exploiting the demand for paternity testing, Barugahara said the government has restricted authorised DNA paternity testing to two accredited institutions: the Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory (DGAL) and MBN Clinical Laboratories.
He said the government has prohibited the use of home-based or rapid DNA testing kits and has relied on the Uganda Police Force forensic laboratory to support DNA investigations where necessary.
The growing number of paternity disputes has prompted legal debate over whether men who discover they are not the biological fathers of children they have raised should be allowed to seek legal redress.
Legal experts are examining options that could permit claims for damages in cases involving false paternity.