Ugandan music star Jose Chameleone has threatened legal action against Bukedde TV presenter Josephat Sseguya after the television personality allegedly claimed that DNA test results had shown one of the singer’s children was not biologically his.
In a strongly worded statement shared on his social media platforms, the Leone Island boss dismissed the allegation as false, malicious and defamatory, warning that the matter could end up in court.
“I AM VERY DEVASTATED BY THIS FALSE ALLEGATION MR SEGUYA!!!!!! You might pay a very big price whilst looking for attention!!!! YOU ARE SLOWLY OPENING A CAN OF WORMS.
THIS NOT TRUE!!.
You have taken your Lies really far and I guess we are going to Deal with this in court!!
STOP YOUR MALICIOUS ALLEGATIONS RIGHT NOW!!!!
Yours
JOSE CHAMELEONE,” the singer wrote.
The musician did not indicate whether Josephat Sseguya had contacted him before making the claims, but his response signals what could become another high-profile defamation battle involving celebrity gossip in Uganda.
The controversy comes at a time when DNA testing has become one of Uganda’s most emotionally charged social issues, with an increasing number of families seeking paternity confirmation and several public figures finding themselves at the center of the debate.
DNA tests increasingly dominating Uganda’s public discourse
Over the past few years, paternity testing has moved from private family disputes into mainstream public conversation.
Just days ago, State Minister Balaam Barugahara revealed that while serving as Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, 238 out of 250 DNA tests reportedly conducted for families showed that the men tested were not the biological fathers of the children involved—a claim that sparked widespread debate on social media and among family experts.
Although those figures have generated intense discussion, there is no publicly available national database confirming the overall prevalence of non-paternity in Uganda.
The Paul Kafeero controversy still resonates
The latest allegations against Chameleone also revive memories of one of Uganda’s most controversial posthumous family disputes involving the late Kadongo Kamu legend Paul Kafeero.
Years after Kafeero’s death in 2007, public disagreements emerged over the paternity of an individual claiming to be among the singer’s biological children.
The matter generated widespread media attention, with relatives reportedly seeking scientific verification through DNA testing to settle competing claims over lineage and inheritance.
The controversy highlighted how DNA technology has increasingly become the final arbiter in family disputes involving prominent Ugandans, even long after their deaths.
Family tensions already in the spotlight
The latest claims also come against the backdrop of Chameleone’s highly publicized marital breakdown with his estranged wife, Daniella Atim.
After years of public disagreements and allegations of domestic abuse, Daniella relocated to the United States with their children, where they have continued their education while Chameleone remained in Uganda pursuing his music career.
The couple’s separation has frequently attracted public attention, making any claims concerning their children particularly sensitive.
While the current DNA allegations are unrelated to the couple’s separation, the existing family tensions have amplified public interest in the claims.
Legal implications
Under Ugandan law, a person who believes false statements have damaged their reputation may institute civil proceedings for defamation.
Legal experts say that if Chameleone follows through on his threat, the court would likely examine whether the statements were presented as factual claims, whether they were false, and whether they caused reputational harm.
Because DNA testing directly touches on issues of parentage, inheritance and family identity, false public allegations can carry significant legal and emotional consequences.
No evidence produced
As of publication, neither Josephat Sseguya nor Bukedde TV had publicly produced any DNA report supporting the allegations.
Likewise, no evidence has been presented indicating that Chameleone or any member of his family has undertaken DNA testing in relation to the claims.
For now, the singer insists the allegations are entirely fabricated and says he is prepared to seek redress through the courts.
Whether the dispute ends with an apology or a courtroom battle, it has once again thrust Uganda’s growing fascination with DNA testing—and its devastating impact on families—into the national spotlight.
