Prince Paul Kafeero’s Remains Exhumed for DNA Paternity Testing

In a dramatic and unprecedented turn of events, the remains of legendary Kadongo Kamu musician Prince Paul Job Kafeero have been officially exhumed following a strict court order.

The highly sensitive forensic exercise is aimed at conducting DNA testing to conclusively resolve a bitter, nearly two-decade-long paternity and inheritance dispute involving more than 20 individuals claiming to be his biological children and rightful heirs.

The meticulous exhumation process, carried out on Monday morning, June 1, 2026, marks a major milestone in a legal battle that has deeply fractured the late singer’s family since his untimely death in 2007.

Local Government Minister-designate Balaam Barugahara, who is currently preparing to hand over his current docket as the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs following the recent cabinet reshuffle, confirmed the development.

Barugahara, a close friend of the late musician, noted that the state stepped in to provide scientific clarity and bring long-overdue emotional and legal closure to the family.

Barugahara revealed that the long-standing paternity dispute involving over 20 young people will soon be resolved following the successful retrieval of forensic samples. He noted that a process that had remained stubbornly unresolved for over 20 years is finally underway.

The complex exhumation and sample collection were conducted under tight security by a specialized team of senior pathologists led by the Director of Police Health Services, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Dr. Moses Byaruhanga.

The entire exercise strictly adhered to the issued court order and standard international forensic procedures to prevent any contamination of the biological evidence.

The retrieved DNA samples have been safely transferred and will undergo rigorous comparative analysis at both the Government Analytical Laboratory (GAL) and the Uganda Police Forensic Laboratory. The scientific results will definitively map out the biological relationships among all the claimants.

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At the very heart of the legal standoff is the administration of Prince Paul Kafeero’s multi-million shilling estate and the identification of his lawful beneficiaries.

According to official court records filed before the Family Division of the High Court, dozens of claimants petitioned the judiciary against four main respondents, including the Administrator General, seeking a definitive resolution to the inheritance gridlock.

The roots of the dispute trace back to shortly after Kafeero’s passing in May 2007. At the time, the family had collectively entrusted Vincent Ssalongo Nanganga Waswa (also known as Umar) with the task of securing the necessary Letters of Administration to manage the estate. However, Waswa passed away before completing the legal process, leaving the administration in a state of chaotic limbo and exposing the estate to endless infighting.

An earlier attempt by the family to conduct DNA testing in 2021 completely stalled after forensic experts advised the family to first settle their deep-seated domestic disputes through mediation before such a sensitive medical procedure could be executed.

Realizing the stalemate was hurting the late icon’s legacy, Barugahara recently renewed the push for state-backed DNA testing, leveraging modern advances in forensic science to bring definitive finality to the matter.

Prince Paul Kafeero remains widely celebrated as one of Uganda’s most poetically gifted and influential Kadongo Kamu musicians of all time, famous for his iconic masterpieces like Walumbe Zaaya and Kampala Kwagalana. He tragically passed away on May 17, 2007, at Mulago Hospital at the young age of 36 due to complications arising from kidney failure.

The impending release of the DNA results is expected to serve as the ultimate legal blueprint for the High Court to fairly distribute his estate, separating legitimate heirs from impostors and ending years of toxic uncertainty.