Politician's Says No to
DNA Test in Kabaka Row
A SON of Daudi Ocheng, the Ugandan nationalist alleged to be the real father of the present King of Buganda, has instructed his brothers and sisters not to submit to DNA tests in the controversy over the parentage of Kabaka Ronald Mutebi II.
Daudi Ocheng, the eldest son of the late Acholi politician, who is named after his father, sent out the directive to family members "wherever they be", in an exclusive interview with The EastAfrican in Dar- es-Salaam, where he lives and works.
He was reacting to calls for biological tests to settle the public debate in Uganda ignited by claims that the reigning King of the Baganda is not the son of Kabaka Frederick Mutesa II, who died in exile in Britain 30 years ago. Three Baganda princesses, Nalinya Catherine Nkinzi, Nalinya Dorothy Nabweteme and Nalinya Elizabeth Nakabiri publicly claimed on Sunday, January 17, that Kabaka Mutebi's biological father was Ocheng the elder, who was a close friend and political associate of Kabaka Frederick Mutesa.
On Friday, Mr Ocheng's son said in the Tanzanian capital: "No DNA test will take place. It will take place over my dead body. I have already instructed my sisters and my current administrator, who manages our (family) affairs, while I am here."
Mr Ocheng said he had already spoken to his sister in Kampala, as well as his brothers in Gulu and London, not to undergo any tests.
The proposal for a DNA test came from Dr Martin Aliker, a brother of the late Daudi Ocheng, who is a government minister. He had dismissed the princesses' claims, saying the Ocheng family should undergo DNA tests to determine whether Kabaka Mutebi is their brother.
But Mr Ocheng told The EastAfrican: "We are not party to this confusion and they should not misunderstand the friendship that existed between my father and the late Kabaka. If there is a misunderstanding within the royal family, it does not involve us.
"I am speaking as the heir, chairman and family spokesperson. As far as I am concerned, the case is closed."
Asked why he did not wish his family to undergo the DNA test, Mr Ocheng replied: "I don't want it because I don't want it, not because I am afraid of anything. My father died because of politics. I don't want to be involved in politics. This is the beginning of dragging me into politics and I don't want it."
Daudi said he wanted his father and the Kabaka Mutesa left in peace and Mutebi left to reign.
Kabaka Mutebi was installed in 1993, about 24 years after he had succeeded his father, Kabaka Mutesa II. The princesses launched their attack on the Kabaka in press statements issued at Kasubi tombs, the hallowed burial grounds of the royal family. But they have since been denounced by the Buganda parliament and disowned by President Museveni's government, which was initially suspected to be backing them.
Mr Ocheng said he would not turn down an invitation to visit Kabaka Mutebi if it were extended, because they grew up together and both attended King's College, Budo. He said he and the Kabaka had not met since 1966, when the senior Ocheng died from a stomach ailment believed to have been brought on by poisoning.
"If I get the opportunity to go and see him, I will go and see him as a friend, a former schoolmate and a citizen of Uganda. I do not fear going to see him, but the time has not come."
Mr Ocheng said he wished to protect the Ocheng family from humiliation and suffering because they had suffered enough.
He said some people were trying to raise certain issues so that they could benefit from the Ocheng name as they had done in the past while the family had been forgotten.
"My father did a lot of good things for Uganda, and it is only now that his name is being tarnished. When you are close to somebody, a lot of speculation can take place. These people (royal family members against Mutebi) should have voiced their sus picions when Mutebi was being crowned, rather than wait all this time," he said.
The princesses claimed in their statement that Sarah Kisosonkole, Mutebi's mother, never visited Kabaka Mutesa while he was in exile in Britain. He had been forced out of Uganda by the colonial government on November 30, 1953.
They charged that Mutebi's mother and Kabaka Mutesa never met during his period in exile. Mutebi, they said, was born on April 13, 1955 at Mulago and was seven months old when the Kabaka returned from exile. His real father was allegedly Daudi Ocheng.
Last week the younger Ocheng said his father, a northerner from Gulu, grew up together with Kabaka Mutesa in Buganda, and joined politics because of the encouragement and friendship he enjoyed with the King until his death in 1966.
Although Ocheng was an Acholi, his children were born in Buganda and speak Luganda fluently.
Mr Ocheng said his father was accepted even by non-Acholis and was one of the few non- Baganda politicians to win a parliamentary seat in Buganda.
He said the naming of a spot on Hoima Road in Kampala as Ocheng Zone, after his father, had made him anxious to return home.
Meanwhile
Kabaka Mutebi, 44, upset by the allegations, does not plan to marry and bear a heir to the Buganda throne soon, in spite of mounting pressure from elders of the kingdom, palace sources said .
Related stories on pages 9 and 11
Additional reporting by Kampala bureau staff
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