By Johannah Nantongo
KAMPALA. DNA test results have thrown out 21 out of the 25 individuals claiming to be children of late Kadongo Kamu music legend, Paul Job Kafeero.
DNA test results released by the Uganda Police Forensic Directorate have delivered a stunning revelation, confirming that only four out of 25 individuals claiming to be his children are his actual biological offspring.
The highly anticipated results were unveiled on Thursday afternoon at the Police Headquarters in Naguru. Tensions ran high as dozens of claimants, family members, and legal stakeholders gathered in a hushed room to hear the definitive scientific findings.
Reading the results, the Director of Forensic Services for the Uganda Police Force, Acting Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Andrew Mubiru, announced that a staggering 21 claimants had been scientifically excluded.
According to the official forensic report, only the following four individuals share a biological match with the late maestro:
Simon Peter Kafeero
Elizabeth Nagawa
Thomas Swazi Kafeero
Benedict Kafeero
“Science does not lie,” AIGP Mubiru noted during the briefing. “These forensic results provide an indisputable, legal framework to finally establish the rightful heirs to Kafeero’s name and estate.”
The massive DNA verification exercise was conducted under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. Key officials overseeing the process included the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara—who funded the costly exercise—and the Director of the Government Analytical Laboratory, Kepher Kuchana Kateu.
Paul Job Kafeero, who tragically passed away in 2007 at the age of 36, remains one of the most influential and celebrated figures in the history of Ugandan music. Renowned for his deep storytelling, mastery of the acoustic guitar, and timeless hits like Walumbe Zaaya and Buladina, his music still enjoys massive airplay and generates substantial royalties.
However, because Kafeero died intestate (without a valid will), his vast musical catalog, intellectual property, and extensive land holdings became the center of bitter family feuds. Over the last two decades, the number of individuals claiming to be his children grew exponentially, stalling the distribution of his estate and sparking intense public debate. The chaos eventually prompted the family and legal administrators to turn to the government and police for intervention.
The scientific breakthrough follows a dramatic turn of events last week, when the remains of the music icon were exhumed from his resting place following a strict court order. The exhumation was necessary to obtain viable bone and tissue samples for accurate comparative testing.
Government Chief Pathologist, Dr. Moses Byaruhanga, who oversaw the sensitive procedure, defended the decision as a necessary measure to put an end to years of internal family rancour.
“This definitive test will remove all doubts and anxiety regarding the true lineage of Paul Job Kafeero’s offspring,” Dr. Byaruhanga stated prior to the testing.
Earlier, Stella Nantongo, one of Kafeero’s widely acknowledged children, expressed the emotional weight the family carried throughout the process, describing the exhumation as a painful but unavoidable step.
“This is the last thing we wanted to happen to our father’s resting place,” Nantongo said. “But if it is the only way to solve the underlying issues tearing the family apart, then it is good that it has been done.”
Joseph Luzige, the legal counsel representing the children who feared they might be wrongfully excluded, emphasized that the scientific intervention was the only way to achieve finality.
Thursday’s announcement marks the end of months of grueling anxiety and public speculation. For the 21 individuals whose claims were disproved, the results deliver a heavy emotional and legal blow, effectively cutting off any future claim to the musician’s lucrative estate. Conversely, for the four confirmed children, the results bring profound relief, allowing the true heirs to properly manage, protect, and preserve the rich legacy of one of Uganda’s greatest traditional music icons.