Simon Peter Mudenyi
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Simon Peter Mudenyi, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has cautioned the public about the emotional risks associated with DNA paternity testing, which has become a hot topic in Ugandan society.
“Just last week, we registered 94 cases,” Mudenyi shared. “95% were men seeking paternity confirmation, 2% were women checking their children, and 3% were children bringing parents in for testing”
Alarmingly, 98% of the results were negative. This means that the children tested were not biologically related to the men who requested the tests .
According to Mudenyi, only those who are emotionally strong should seek these paternity test:
“My advice to people seeking DNA tests is this: do not go through with it unless you have a strong heart. If you don’t, please don’t do it” .
The rise in DNA testing sheds light on a broader societal shift. In the recent past, high-profile cases have captured public attention, triggering nationwide discussions about trust, family, and identity.
Recently, Kawempe North late MP Muhammad Ssegirinya only biologically fathered 4 of his reported 9 children at the time of his death. This was confirmed by his assistant Alex Luwemba Luswa last month after the tests were carried out.
Another prominent case involved Prof. Badru Kateregga, founder and Vice Chancellor of Kampala University. In June, DNA tests confirmed he is the father of only two of his three children—the twins—but not the youngest . As expected, this has ignited debate on family integrity, parental rights, and the emotional toll of genetic discoveries.
