Health Minister gives guidelines on DNA testing

The Minister of Health, Dr. Ruth Acheng on Monday July 10, revealed that there are only two laboratories accredited to carry out DNA testing in Uganda.

Speaking during a press conference  on DNA paternity testing, Aceng said that  Government Analytical Laboratory (GAL) and MBN Clinical Laboratories are the  only two main laboratories that  have been nationally and internationally certified and accredited to run DNA paternity testing in uganda

The Minister added that no Laboratories and clinics shall be allowed to collect samples for DNA paternity testing unless they have agreements with the Laboratory to which they send samples for testing and the testing Laboratory take full accountability for the results.

She further guided that no Laboratory or any facility shall ship any samples for DNA paternity testing outside the country except with special clearance from the Director General of Health Services and/ or Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) adding that  any Laboratory that is prepared and wants to do DNA paternity testing can apply to the Director General of Health Services who will set up a team of experts to assess the Laboratory for certification. 

The guidelines come after the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa  asking government to come up with guidelines on carrying out DNA tests without breaking families and ruining lives of innocent children.

Speaking on Tuesday last week, Tayebwa described the issue of DNA as being sensitive and needs government intervention.

“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.

He asked that DNA laboratory centres are regulated to avoid scenarios of issuance of fake results which might be disastrous.

“Ugandans are very sharp, now in every corner, you are going to have a DNA laboratory. So we want to know how this should be regulated and handled.”

According to Tayebwa, the surge in DNA testing where men discover that the presumed biological children are not theirs has led to untold suffering to children.

Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga had earlier warned of fake DNA results that could end up breaking families and running lives of children.

He said a big number of the laboratories carrying out DNA tests are not accredited by government to do these services and are subject to issuing fake results.