KAMPALA, Uganda — Nearly two decades after the death of celebrated Kadongo Kamu musician Paul Job Kafeero, forensic DNA testing has brought a dramatic twist to a long-running family dispute, confirming that only four of the 25 individuals who had claimed to be his children are biologically related to the late singer.
The results, released on Thursday at the Uganda Police Headquarters in Naguru, identified the verified children as Kafeero Bendicto, Kafeero Simon Peter, Kafeero Thomas, and Nagawa Elizabeth.
The announcement marks a major milestone in a paternity and inheritance battle that has lingered since Kafeero’s death in 2007, generating years of speculation, family disagreements, and legal wrangles over his estate. The DNA exercise was conducted jointly by the Uganda Police Forensic Directorate and the Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory (DGAL).
The release of the findings was witnessed by Minister Balaam Barugahara, who has played a central role in efforts to resolve the dispute. Also present were Director of Police Forensics Andrew K. Mubiru and DGAL Director Kepher Kuchana Kateu, whose teams conducted the scientific analysis.
For years, more than 20 individuals had publicly claimed to be children of the late musician, with competing claims creating divisions among family members and fueling public debate. Authorities said the DNA exercise was intended to provide definitive scientific evidence and bring closure to a dispute that had remained unresolved for 19 years.
The path to Thursday’s announcement began earlier this month when Kafeero’s remains were exhumed under a court order to allow forensic experts to collect samples for DNA testing. The exercise was carried out by a team of pathologists led by government forensic experts, with samples subsequently analyzed by the Government Analytical Laboratory and the Uganda Police Forensic Laboratory.
Minister Balaam had described the exercise as a necessary step toward ending a dispute that had overshadowed the legacy of one of Uganda’s most influential musicians. Before the release of the findings, he said the process was intended to establish the truth and restore harmony among family members.
Born Paul Job Kafeero, the musician rose to prominence as one of the most celebrated figures in Uganda’s Kadongo Kamu genre. Known for his storytelling ability and socially conscious lyrics, Kafeero produced classics that remain popular nearly two decades after his death. He was widely regarded as one of the genre’s defining voices and won acclaim for songs that addressed everyday struggles, relationships, poverty, and morality.
Yet despite his enduring musical influence, disputes surrounding his family and estate have repeatedly resurfaced, threatening to overshadow his artistic legacy. In recent years, relatives and claimants have engaged in bitter disagreements over inheritance and lineage, prompting calls for scientific intervention to establish the facts once and for all.
Thursday’s DNA findings are expected to significantly influence ongoing discussions regarding Kafeero’s estate and legal beneficiaries. While authorities have not immediately disclosed the next legal steps, the results provide the clearest determination yet of who can legitimately claim biological descent from the late singer.
For many of Kafeero’s admirers, the conclusion of the DNA process represents more than a family matter. It closes a chapter that has followed one of Uganda’s greatest musical icons long after his death, allowing attention to return to the songs and legacy that made him a household name across the country.
Ugandan DNA test results have previously left men shocked, with several tycoons and other famous Ugandan men finding out that they were not the real fathers of all or some of their chidren as reported Here, There and Over There.
A Catholic priest even told off Ugandan men rushing for their children’s DNA tests to marry machines if they did not trust their wives. (See Details Here, and There).
