DNA Tests Reveal Paternity Surprises in Uganda, Challenging Tradition and Faith
KAMPALA, Uganda – A surge in DNA paternity testing in Uganda is upending long-held societal norms and sparking debate among religious leaders, as increasing numbers of men discover they are not the biological fathers of children they believed to be their own. The trend, fueled by affordability and accessibility of testing, is forcing families to confront questions of duty, inheritance, and the very definition of fatherhood within a culture historically prioritizing communal child-rearing.
While precise figures are unavailable, anecdotal evidence from religious leaders and testing facilities indicates a significant rise in discrepancies. Some men are resorting to drastic measures, even demanding a bizarre “test” – one man reportedly requested his potential child’s paternity be confirmed “on condition that you invite my (dead) mother.” This reflects the deep emotional and cultural weight attached to paternity in Ugandan society.
Traditionally, Ugandan communities have placed less emphasis on biological paternity than on social fatherhood – the man who raises and provides for a child was considered the father, regardless of genetics. “For us, they knew the child belonged to you regardless,” explained elder Kutoi, reflecting this conventional view. Disowning children was rare, though men might offer a disputed son land away from the family’s primary holdings.
However, the increasing availability of DNA testing is challenging this established order. Religious leaders are attempting to mediate the resulting conflicts, urging men to consider the consequences before seeking tests.Kaziimba, the Anglican primate, advises doubting men to “leave the matter to God,” while Wantsala echoes this sentiment, stating, “When they come, in whichever way they come, children are children.”
Pastors like Andrew Mutengu of Word of Faith Ministries in mbale are regularly mediating paternity disputes. Last month, he resolved a case involving a businessman and a barber claiming paternity of the same young girl after the businessman’s wife confessed to infidelity. Mutengu successfully persuaded the barber to cease publicly claiming fatherhood to protect the child. “He goes around bragging that ‘I am the father,'” Mutengu said, noting the disruption caused to the woman’s current family.
Despite the counsel of faith leaders, many men are resolute to know the truth. Mutengu believes demand for DNA testing would increase further if it were more affordable.even Kutoi, while upholding tradition, revealed a moment of personal doubt when observing his own tall, light-skinned son, joking, “When you looked at him, did he look like me?”
The rise in paternity testing highlights a cultural shift in Uganda, as modern science clashes with deeply ingrained traditions, leaving families grappling with complex emotional and social ramifications.
