The Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara has said 95.2 per cent of DNA tests conducted through petitions during his time as Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development showed that the men involved were not the biological fathers.
Barugahara made the remarks while commenting on recent DNA findings involving the family of the late Paul Kafeero.
He said the ministry handled 250 paternity-related DNA petitions. Only 12 returned positive results.
“When I was Minister of Gender, we conducted 250 DNA tests and out of these, 238, women had children and gave them to men who are not their fathers. That’s 238 DNA tests which found that the men were not the biological fathers of the children, and these men were struggling and being harassed every day,” he said.
Based on the figures he gave, 238 out of 250 tests represent about 95.2 per cent.
“I have now left that mandate to Gen. Henry Tumukunde to carry on from there,” he said.
Barugahara urged young men to seek DNA tests where there is doubt about paternity.
“I am appealing to young men to zip up your pants or to endeavour to take DNA tests at birth to avoid buying nappies that you shouldn’t have to.”
His remarks came days after DNA tests involving the family of the late Kadongo Kamu singer Paul Kafeero found that only four of the 25 people tested were his biological children.
The findings brought scientific evidence to a paternity dispute that had lasted for years.
They also caused controversy after some family members rejected the results.
The results drew wider public attention after Paulo Kafeero, who closely resembles the late singer, was found not to be his biological son.
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