Uganda’s Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, has declared that only two laboratories in the country have met the necessary requirements for accreditation to conduct DNA paternity tests. The decision comes as the demand for such tests has surged in recent months, partly due to a lack of trust in the process.
During a press conference in Kampala, Dr. Aceng assured journalists that the two accredited laboratories, Government Analytical Laboratory and MBN Clinical Laboratory, possess highly skilled personnel, appropriate infrastructure, and robust quality control and quality assurance protocols. She also mentioned that these laboratories have international accreditation, ensuring their credibility and reliability.
Dr. Aceng emphasized that any other laboratory that believes it meets the accreditation criteria will be considered for accreditation after undergoing a thorough evaluation process.
The minister shared statistics from the accredited laboratories, revealing that in 7 out of 10 paternity disputes subjected to testing, the results confirmed positive biological relationships, confirming the fathers’ claims. Only 3 out of 10 cases showed negated biological relationships, indicating the fathers were not biologically related to the children in question.
Government Analytical Laboratory is located in Wandegeya, Kampala, while MBN Clinical Laboratory has its headquarters in Kampala with branches throughout the country. The owner of MBN laboratory could not be identified at the time of reporting.
Responding to reports suggesting a DNA paternity testing crisis in the country, Dr. Aceng refuted such claims, stating that DNA paternity testing has been a routine practice in Uganda for nearly two decades, successfully resolving paternity and kinship disputes.
However, she acknowledged that social media reports of child neglect, homicides, and suicides following the issuance of negative paternity test results have created the perception of a crisis. Consequently, public confidence in the validity and integrity of DNA paternity testing results and the credibility of the individuals and laboratories conducting the tests has been undermined.
The Minister addressed concerns over potential errors in DNA testing, such as defective machines, incompetence, errors by specialists, or sample/result switches. She explained that DNA tests are conducted using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines, the same equipment used for COVID-19 and other infectious disease testing. These machines are widely available in health facilities and research centers.
Despite concerns raised by some women leaders and religious figures who oppose paternity testing, claiming it risks splitting families and causing emotional distress to children, Dr. Aceng highlighted the need for stronger regulations and guidelines. She stated that the Ministry of Health is working on developing and implementing guidelines to ensure quality, legal, ethical, and professional practices in DNA paternity testing. Additionally, the Ministry is expediting the enactment of the DNA evidence and database bill proposed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Health Minister also exposed the existence of fake laboratories falsely claiming to conduct DNA paternity testing. Some of these labs only collect samples and send them to other facilities, either within or outside the country, for testing. Dr. Aceng also warned against the use of unvalidated home-based DNA test kits available online, urging collaboration between the Department of National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services, the National Drug Authority, and the Uganda Revenue Authority to eliminate these counterfeit kits and prevent their importation into the country.
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