Uganda: Child adoption increases as legal loopholes are exploited
“The number of children being adopted by foreigners has increased by more than 73 per cent in the past two years due to laxity in legal procedures.
According to this paper’s investigations, 312 adoptions were recorded in the first 11 months this year compared to 180 recorded in 2009 and 275 last year. A reliable source in the High Court, Family Division, who preferred anonymity to speak freely, attributed the rise to relaxed legal procedures of adoption in the Family Court.
He said: “Most foreigners are getting children under the pretext of legal guardianship but instead adopt the children, whose legal requirements are tougher.”
The Children’s Act demands, among other things, that foreigners, who want to adopt in Uganda, must have stayed in the country for at least three years and fostered the child for the same period.
The source said the requirement is not followed by court, adding some foreigners spend a week in the country, apply for child adoption and court okays it.
Judiciary spokesperson Erias Kisawuzi said more needy children and changing lifestyle of prospective parents who do not want to give birth has increased the numbers.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Kisawuzi denied that lax judges were to blame, saying “The courts have in the recent past tightened adoption rules. Some judges have denied permission to those intending to adopt and have appealed.”
Child adoption increases as legal loopholes are exploited
[Daily Monitor 12/7/11 by Anthony Wesaka]
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