Minister Balaam backs fresh DNA push in Paul Kafeero family feud – Sqoop

A dramatic new turn has emerged in one of Uganda’s longest-running inheritance disputes, with State Minister Balaam Barugahara backing a plan to exhume the remains of legendary Kadongo Kamu singer Paul Kafeero in a bid to settle ongoing family wrangles.

For years, Kafeero’s estate has been at the centre of a bitter dispute, with multiple individuals claiming to be his biological children. Efforts to resolve the matter through DNA testing have instead deepened divisions, particularly after a previous process—conducted without exhumation—excluded several claimants, sparking allegations of manipulation.

Now, Balaam is calling for what he describes as a conclusive approach: extracting DNA directly from Kafeero’s remains.

Speaking after meeting a section of the singer’s family, the minister said he is ready to facilitate a fresh and more transparent process. He directed family members to first obtain legal clearance from Buganda Road Court before proceeding with testing at Naguru Hospital.

“I’m tired of this issue, and I want it settled because Kafeero was my friend,” Balaam said.
“All children should stop fighting over the property of the dead. Agree as a family to extract DNA from the remains so we can determine the rightful heirs. I will facilitate everything.”

The proposal revives a process that stalled in 2021, when government pathologist Moses Byaruhanga halted an earlier attempt to exhume the body, citing unresolved family disagreements.

At the time, authorities relied on indirect DNA comparisons among the claimants—an approach that has since been widely questioned by some family members.

Those previously excluded from the results have remained vocal, alleging that parts of the estate were sold off while they were sidelined. Their renewed push for fresh testing appears to have prompted Balaam’s intervention.

If approved, the exhumation and new DNA analysis could finally bring closure to a dispute that has for years clouded the legacy of one of Uganda’s most celebrated traditional musicians.

Kafeero family feud takes painful turn after one of his sons was reportedly blocked from burying his child on the singer’s land. Now, the children have turned to State Minister Balaam Barugahara for help, who urged them stop fighting over inheritance and build their own wealth. pic.twitter.com/3ZGOb3bheU

— SQOOP; It’s Deep (@MonitorSqoop) April 22, 2026