Agape Adoptions UGANDA Adoption Program

Uganda Program

Agape Adoptions is pleased to advocate for the children of Uganda. Uganda is located in East Africa and sadly is home to more than 2 million orphans. Most of the children who are available do not have any diagnosed medical needs, however are impoverished children with little resources. There are boys, girls and siblings groups available. Families will need to travel to Uganda and stay for 4-6 weeks. If you are a family who can accommodate the length of travel, the Uganda program is a great fit. Agape Adoptions works with several different “Baby Homes” in the Kampala area.

Requirements

• Parents Age: Parents must be at least 25 years old and at least 21 years older than the child

• Single female applicants and married couples are eligible

• Families must be financially stable

• Required travel of 4-6 weeks in Uganda; one parent is required to stay for the duration

Children who are available

• At this time, Agape Adoptions is working to place children who are already living in an orphanage or “Baby Home,” therefore all children are already identified. Please see our list of waiting children to see who is currently available.

• Children are frequently abandoned on the streets of Uganda by mothers or extended family members who simply can no longer care for them. Children are brought to one of our parenting “Baby Homes” by local authorities.

• Uganda is a pilot program for Agape Adoptions and we hope to be able to place many orphans and vulnerable children into permanent homes. Most of the children Agape Adoptions is advocating for are under the age of 6 who do not have an identified special need.

• At this time, Uganda does not allow the adoption of two unrelated children at the same time.

• Children are eligible for adoption due to: having lost one or both parents from HIV/Aids and/or they have no other living relative.

Process and Timeframes

• Begin your adoption pre-placement report, assemble dossier documents, and submit immigration forms. The pre-placement report generally takes about 3 months to complete.

• Submit dossier documents to Agape Adoptions as you have them completed. Detailed dossier instructions are provided after approval of application.

• Documents are required to be notarized only. Requirement of six (6) originals of all documents are required.

• Upon completion of the dossier, Agape Adoptions will send it to the appropriate “Baby Home” Director, who will then submit the dossier to our lawyer.

• Travel will likely occur 3-6 months later; families travel for an appointed court date and then are required to stay in Uganda for the duration of the process, which can be 4-6 weeks.

Travel

• Both parents are required to meet the child and be at the court hearing, but one parent can then leave.

• Ugandans speak English; Families will be met by a representative of the “Baby Home.”

• Uganda requires a visa upon entry. The cost is $50 per person.

• Most families stay in a guest house, which provides private rooms and breakfast. Some guest houses offer private bathrooms and up to three meals per day. Families can choose to stay in a hotel, however hotels can be $150 per night. Small grocery items and restaurants are readily available.

POST ADOPTION

• Families are granted legal guardianship in most cases. Families must comply with finalizing the adoption according to Ugandan law. In most cases, families can finalize the adoption in the U.S. courts; however it is possible that the judge may require that families return to Uganda after a period of three years to finalize the adoption in Uganda.

• Three post placement reports are due within the first year. These reports must be completed by a Social Worker; the first is due 3 months after arrival, the second is due 6 months after arrival, and the third is due 12 months after arrival. These reports are sent to Agape Adoptions for processing and submission to the “Baby Home” in Uganda.

• Families might be required to provide two (2) post placement reports twice yearly until the child is 18 years, depending on the Ugandan court ruling.

COSTS

• Total costs range from $12, 000-$15,000 depending on how many children you are adopting. This fee does not include homestudy, immigration fees and travel fees. Immigration fees are approximately $830 (if there are more than two adults living in the home, then there will be additional fees for biometrics). Homestudy fees vary, depending on your homestudy agency. Travel fees will be approximately $5000-$7000 for two people, including one child’s return ticket home.

Fees vary depending on many factors. We have tried to outline the basic costs here. Please contact us for more information on fees associated with adopting a child from Uganda.

* None of the children you see here are available for adoption. We have received written permission from each child's parent to use their child's photo on our website.

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