Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has joined many Ugandans in expressing surprise and skepticism following the release of DNA results intended to establish the biological children of the late Kadongo Kamu icon Paul Kafeero.
The DNA findings, which were unveiled on Thursday at the Uganda Police Headquarters in Naguru, revealed that only four out of the 25 individuals who had claimed to be children of the celebrated musician were confirmed as his biological offspring.
The results immediately sparked widespread public debate, with many Ugandans questioning some of the outcomes, particularly those involving individuals who closely resemble the late singer.
Among the most talked-about cases was that of Paulo Kafeero, who had long been widely believed to be one of the musician’s sons because of his striking physical resemblance to the legendary artiste. However, the DNA analysis excluded him as a biological child of the deceased.
Reacting to the findings, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa said the outcome was difficult for many people to comprehend, especially in light of Paulo’s resemblance to the late musician.
While acknowledging and respecting the scientific process behind DNA testing, Tayebwa admitted that he found it hard to reconcile the results with the apparent physical similarities.
“I do not doubt science but if this gentleman is not Paul Kafeero’s son then we might need to do DNA of our parents when they’re still alive. Cheeiiiii!!!!” Tayebwa wrote on social media while tagging Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara.
The Deputy Speaker accompanied his post with side-by-side photographs of Paulo Kafeero and the late singer, images that have since circulated widely online and intensified public discussion about the DNA findings.
The tests were conducted jointly by experts from the Government Analytical Laboratory and the Uganda Police Forensic Services Laboratory. Officials announced the results at the Police Headquarters in Naguru, confirming that only four individuals had matched the DNA profile obtained from the late musician.
The four individuals confirmed as Paul Kafeero’s biological children are Thomas Kafeero, Simon Peter Kafeero, Benedicto Kafeero and Elizabeth Nagawa.
News of the findings stunned many social media users, with several expressing disbelief, particularly because of Paulo Kafeero’s close resemblance to the late Kadongo Kamu star.
Speaking to journalists after the results were announced, Paulo said he “felt betrayed” and questioned the credibility of the findings, maintaining that he did not believe the results reflected the truth.
The DNA exercise was conducted following a court order permitting the exhumation of Paul Kafeero’s remains. During the exercise, forensic experts collected samples from the late singer’s femoral bones, jaw, skull and hair, which were subsequently used to generate a DNA profile for comparison with samples submitted by the claimants.
Minister Balaam Barugahara, who spearheaded the process, said the DNA profile generated from the late musician’s remains would be permanently retained. He noted that any individual who still believes they are a biological child of Paul Kafeero will be free to undergo DNA testing in the future using the same reference profile.
Paul Kafeero remains one of Uganda’s most celebrated Kadongo Kamu musicians, with his music continuing to enjoy popularity years after his death. The latest DNA findings, however, have opened a new chapter in the public conversation surrounding the late singer’s family and legacy.
Bantu MEDIA 