The reconstruction of the grave of celebrated Kadongokamu musician Paul Job Kafeero has finally commenced in Nkokonjeru Town Council, Buikwe District, following the recent exhumation of his remains.
The grave reconstruction became necessary after a court-authorized exhumation was carried out on Monday. The court ordered the exhumation to obtain DNA samples, part of an ongoing legal process to verify paternity claims by individuals seeking recognition as Kafeero’s children.
A visit to the burial site on Wednesday morning initially painted a worrying picture, with no visible progress on the ground. No construction workers, relatives, or security personnel were present to oversee the site, prompting fears that the project had been abandoned.
However, Mr. Frederick Kalaala, a neighbor to the burial site, clarified that workers returned immediately after the public outcry.
‘When information circulated in the media on Wednesday morning that the grave had partially been left open, the builders came back and resumed the work,’ Kalaala said.
Rhino Funeral Services was awarded the contract for the project. While efforts to reach the company for comment were unsuccessful at the time, family members confirmed that the project is well-funded and moving forward.
Kafeero’s brother, Abubaker Nende, revealed that all funds for the reconstruction were provided by the outgoing State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara. The minister confirmed he personally funded the project on Monday-the same day the remains were exhumed-and noted that the work is already nearing completion.
Meanwhile, the legal battle over the fallen musician’s estate intensifies. About 20 individuals claiming to be Kafeero’s children were expected to undergo DNA testing on Thursday. The testing is scheduled to take place at the Government Analytical Laboratory in Wandegeya and the Uganda Police Forensic Laboratory in Naguru to determine their biological relationship with the musician.
The DNA results are expected to play a critical role in determining the rightful beneficiaries of his estate, potentially bringing closure to years of uncertainty within the family since Kafeero’s death in May 2007.