By Juma Nsamba
When Prince Job Paul Kafeero released Ebirowoozo, he sang like a man looking at life from the inside of a storm. The song carried the ache of private battles, the burden of unanswered questions, the struggle to find rest, and the quiet pain of people trying to make sense of life without a clear guide.
In the song, Kafeero reflected on how people do their best, yet still find themselves alone in the fight. He sang about the weight of thought, the search for peace, the pain of circumstances that make life harder, and the puzzle of survival when nothing seems certain.
Years later, those lines now fall heavily on his own name.
The late Kadongo Kamu legend could not have known that long after his death, his family would be drawn into a dispute over identity, bloodline and belonging. A song that once spoke to ordinary struggles now sounds painfully close to the unresolved questions around his estate.
That dispute has now entered a decisive stage.
Outgoing Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, has revealed that the remains of the late singer have been exhumed for DNA sampling as part of efforts to resolve a long standing paternity dispute involving more than 20 young people allegedly fathered by Kafeero.
In a statement posted on X, Barugahara said the process had remained unresolved for over 20 years and had kept the family in a prolonged dispute.
“As I prepare to hand over the Youth and Children Affairs docket soon, I wish to inform the public that the long standing paternity dispute involving over 20 young people allegedly fathered by my friend, the late Prince Paul Kafeero, will soon be resolved,” Barugahara said.
He said the exhumation was carried out this morning to allow forensic teams collect samples for DNA testing, describing the exercise as a major step toward establishing the truth.
According to Barugahara, the exhumation and sample collection were conducted by a team of pathologists led by Assistant Inspector General of Police Dr. Byaruhanga, in accordance with a court order and established forensic procedures.
He said the Government Analytical Laboratory and the Uganda Police Forensic Laboratory will now conduct the necessary tests.
For the claimants, the DNA process could determine whether they are legally recognised as children of the late singer. For the family, it could bring closure to a question that has followed Kafeero’s name for years after his death.
Kafeero, born Paul Job Kafeero, remains one of Uganda’s most celebrated Kadongo Kamu musicians. His music carried the voice of ordinary people, touching family struggles, hardship, betrayal, faith, poverty and endurance.
That is why the latest development has struck a deeper chord. Ebirowoozo was a song about life’s unresolved burdens. Today, the burden sits at the heart of his own family story.
