By Hedwig Arinaitwe
During a parliament sitting early this month (July), Faith Nakut the Napak Woman representative suggested that the Ministry of Health should act quickly by adding DNA paternity testing to the list of restricted health services.
‘’ We need to protect the men who are committing suicide and also the children who are now being abandoned,’’ she said.
Whereas this was a solutions-based proposal backed up by all legislators and wider public, social media was already ablaze with stereotyping annotations against women. One of the famous widespread campaigns equally adopted by mainstream media was #Fear women with exemplifications of sexual immorality, extortion and source of all family wrong, of course therein hidden paternity truths.
According to the Uganda Ministry of Internal affairs, since the month of June, there has been a 75% increase in the number of men seeking DNA testing in order to verify the paternity of children in their homes.
At the beginning of the month of July, information from the Ministry revealed that at least 32 men had written to the directorate of citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) demanding the cancellation of children’s passports after DNA results proved a different biological father.
Amidst the social family crisis unearthed by DNA processes of revealing paternity statuses, could a new stereotype be fuelled against women? Who is the victim in this? Is it in order to oversee these “truth” centres? Who has to and for victims, where do they run to?
It was once said that the unknown is a calm place for human nature because once it becomes known, what awaits the heart is uncertain. Indeed, for Evelyn (not real names) it was confusion, betrayal, terror and spite. This and many alike are the stories of heartbroken men and women, like Evelyn with the DNA and its aftermath. For some, it’s simply crossed truths that innocently render them under the harsh perceptions of #fear women before the public.
In 2018, Evelyn birthed a baby girl resulting from a two-year love relationship with her boyfriend that now is a painful story to relate. It was unforeseen that the supposed baby daddy would deny paternity of child based on the light skin colour and absence of a mark on the fourth finger as a traditional must have of his clan fathering, on the new born.
This healing mother recalls that the first thing her boyfriend mentioned upon setting his eyes on the baby was, ‘’This baby is very light skinned yet no one in my family is close to this color,’’ she recalls.
She narrates that the nurse on watch told the man that babies are usually very light at birth, amidst him checking the baby’s fingers. Evelyn says that it was at this point that he got upset and started accusing her of sleeping with another man. His reason being that, his clan has a specific mark on the fourth finger, then he blurted out ‘’Musawo can we do a DNA’’, he requested.
Evelyn relates that through the outburst of the man, she tried pleading that the child was rightfully his in vain.
A month later, this mother to one remembers to have been brought to DNA results by her supposed baby father indicating that their daughter was not genetically attached to him.
Evelyn recalls to have been broken. She says that to save her daughter from growing up without her real father, she requested they repeat the test together, but the man threw the papers at her and blocked her everywhere.
It is later that she found out the father of her child had been married for three years, had been trying for a child and his wife was five months pregnant with a baby boy, yet he never ever mentioned any of this to her.
Evelyn strongly affirms that this man was no other but the father to her daughter but because of his deceit, she and daughter were victimized.
The surge in demand for paternity tests according to counsellors has been linked to, growing trust discrepancy and moral decay among couples in the country. It is also strongly emphasized that there are other factors that society does not want to discuss including infertility in couples especially male infertility issues.
According to data released by World Health Organisation this year, the prevalence of infertility among couples ranges between 12.6 and 17.5% worldwide. In Uganda the infertility prevalence is 3% and secondary 35%.
Whereas Infertility and delayed fertility are some of the challenges couples experience today, it is often difficult for males to accept that they could be infertile and need to seek medical help.
Phiona Nanozi Ngoga, a fertility expert and director at RHF Uganda, says that male infertility is a huge contributor to the numerous Negative DNA tests today.
‘’ Infertility is a condition for both the male and female reproductive systems. Most women go out of their marriages trying to find out what the problem could be, and end up having children. With the consequences, there is a lot of heartbreak, not only for the parents but also the children; men need to be more open to seeking fertility help,’’ she said
Dr. Banex Twesigye of Bethany Women’s and Family Hospital was in complete agreement of male infertility, being a factor in the high number of negative DNA cases currently.
‘’Usually men don’t disclose their fertility status and this leaves the woman trying to find answers, there is no shame in men seeking for fertility help and this is where our society has got to do better for the good of the family,’’ he advised.
The Neglected Victim
Evelyn relates that whereas she suffered emotional pain and shamed, it cannot equate to the isolation her daughter lives in.
‘’ My daughter hasn’t received enough of my time and even calls her grandmother mummy. Starting over as a new and single mom was the biggest challenge of my life; when my daughter made a year, I sold the little property and went to Saudi Arabia as a supermarket attendant to fend for my daughter,’’ she narrates tearfully.
In Uganda DNA testing to determine a child’s paternity or maternity is catered for under the Children’s Act and Children’s Amendment Act, 2015. Whereas this is legally accepted, the wellbeing of the child must be prioritized.
Ibabaza Ambrose Muganga, a lawyer and Mental Health expert says that, parents should prioritise the welfare principle of the child amidst obtaining DNA testing.
‘’The Welfare principle questions; the child’s health, is the child obtaining quality education, clothing and are the child’s rights being observed.
Mr. Kenneth Mukama Katendeko, a family lawyer, argues that a child in a negative DNA case can be identified as a neglected child if the child’s welfare is threatened as under the children’s Act 2015.
Under the primary Act 2015, such a child is entitled to legal guardianship and as introduced by the amendment, rights to protective services in particular alternative care.
Where do the victims go? Are there regulations?
On July, 5, 2023 the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa while addressing Members of Parliament asked the government to regulate the mushrooming DNA paternity laboratories in the country and initiate counselling services for men who have fallen victim.
“We need the Right Honourable Prime Minister at least you come out and guide the nation on this matter and we see how best we can counsel these people. Maybe if there are regulations around it, but we just don’t leave it,” Tayebwa said.
Following many debates on the issue, On July 10, 2023 Uganda Ministry of Health named MBN (private owned) and Government Analytical Laboratory as the only accredited facilities allowed to conduct deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) paternity tests in the country.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng while addressing the press said that, the two laboratories are the only ones that have met the requirements of accreditation to conduct the tests whose demand has increased rapidly in the past month, partly because of trust deficit.
While trust deficit seems to flourish among couples, Sandra Sande Agaba, a professional counsellor and lecturer at Cavendish University believes, effective communication and honesty could curb what looks like a new threat to the family unit.
‘’In all of this pre-counselling should be mandatory even after the testing is done, the couple should undergo preparation. However, couples need to erase gaps for mistrust and strive to unite families’’
