| Children Available for Uganda Adoption | Uganda Adoption Requirements | Uganda Adoption Timeline |
| Uganda Adoption Cost Overview | Uganda Adoption Process | Uganda Adoption Resources |
Request your Free Outreach Guide to learn more about Uganda Adoption today!
About Uganda
Uganda is located in East Africa, bordered by Kenya, Sudan, DRC, Rwanda and Tanzania. The capital city of Kampala has just under 2 million people, while the country itself has over 33 million. The people of Uganda are known for speaking several distinct languages. English is the official language, and is taught in schools, but Bantu, Nilotic Luo and Central Sudanic languages are spoken throughout this culturally diverse land. Uganda is made up of a broad range of ethnic groups with at least forty languages in usage.
Although not as rich as neighboring Kenya and Tanzania in terms of wild life, Uganda is known for its wildlife safaris, including the very rare mountain gorillas. Lake Victoria is the source of the Nile, which travels north 6,800km to Cairo. World class whitewater rafting is famous at the source of the Nile, and the climate, even though it's on the Equator, is surprisingly mild, due to the 1500m above sea level altitude. The Ugandan culture is also known for its rich tradition of music, dance, storytelling and folklore.
Governance of Ugandan Adoptions
The Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development is Uganda's central adoption authority. This Ministry oversees the Probation and Social Welfare Officers assigned to magistrate courts. Prospective parents adopting in Uganda will work with these officers in the region where the child resides. Uganda is not party to the Hague convention.
Children in Uganda are orphaned or abandoned due to illness and poverty in their families. Many children have parents or siblings who are stricken with HIV/AIDS and/or malaria. Today, 63% of all orphans are living without both natural parents. Uganda also has the second-youngest population in the world, with over half of the population being under 15 years old, contributing to a great need for child-aid. Many orphaned children attend school and this is the only home they know. Ugandan children consider regular meals, a clean shirt, medicines and even a warm blanket, luxuries. Please request our CAN guide for more details.
Children of All Nations is licensed to place children from Uganda. Only children who have been declared legally orphaned or abandoned by a judge are available for adoption. When selecting a child(ren), consider that you may adopt the following:
- Boys and girls approximately 12 months to 5 years old
- Infants from 4 months to 5 years with special needs
- Sibling groups
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In addition to the USCIS eligibility requirements for prospective adoptive parent(s), Uganda has the following adoption eligibility requirements. If you feel you are not eligible to adopt from Uganda, or you are unsure, we may still be able to work with you. Please contact us for a free case-by-case consultation regarding your Uganda adoption.
- Citizenship: One Adoptive parent must be a U.S. citizen.
- Age: Applicants must be at least 25 years old and 21 years older than the child they plan to adopt. In the case of a married couple, it is sufficient for one spouse to meet these requirements.
- Marriage Status: Married couples are eligible to adopt regardless of length of marriage. Singles may only adopt a child of their same gender.
- Previous Children: There are no strict requirements on the maximum number of previous children in the home, however strong preference is given to families with less than five children. For families with five or more children, they cannot all be adopted.
- Religion: Prospective adoptive parents who are practicing Christians are given strong preference by the orphanage to adopt through our Uganda adoption program.
- Income: There is no minimum income required. However, you must meet the income requirements provided by USCIS for the child to immigrate.
- Criminal History: Applicants with any criminal history are not eligible to adopt.
Uganda adoption eligibility requirements are subject to change per Uganda’s adoption laws. CAN updates these guidelines as necessary.
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The timeframe to complete international adoption from the Uganda is currently about 15 to 18 months, depending on the time families take to complete their dossier paperwork, their preferences for age and gender, and country processes. This time frame is subject to change, so please consult CAN for the most current processing times for your adoption from Uganda.
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Uganda Adoption Cost Overview
To give you a general understanding of adoption costs for Uganda, the following list outlines fees paid directly to CAN, fees paid for in-country adoption development and legal processes through CAN, and fees paid for your Home Study and Post Adoption reports. All listed fees are a portion of your adoption costs and are subject to change without notice.
Our Uganda adoption fees are among the lowest available. We strive to keep costs low so that we may help as many children as possible find their loving, forever family.
 |
Application Fee | $250 |
| (Opens your file to review and determine eligibility for adoption from your preferred country) | ||
|
CAN Professional Service Fee | $5,500 |
| (Provides families with personal consultation, instruction and support at every stage of the adoption process) | ||
|
Foreign Adoption Program Fee | $3,500 |
| (Allows CAN to work with foreign governments for program development) | ||
|
Legal and Facilitation Fee (Complies with foreign country document translation and legalization requirements) | $2,000 |
|
Government and Adoption Document Fee (Covers expenses to have child legally ready for adoption) | $1,850 |
|
Home Study Fee (Home Study Update is not included) | $1,500 |
| (Assesses your readiness for international adoption. This amount is only for families residing in Texas. Fees for Home Studies conducted outside of Texas vary.) | ||
|
Post Adoption Fee | $900 |
| (Evaluates and reports how adopted child is doing with the family. This amount is only for families residing in Texas. Fees for Post Adoption Reports conducted outside of Texas vary.) | ||
Don't forget that the IRS offers a Tax Credit of up to $13,170 to adoptive families.
CAN offers our families a Dossier Preparation Service to ease their adoption paper chase and to give assurance that their dossiers are correctly assembled for submission. CAN also provides Online Hague Parent Education Courses to help adoptive parents meet the minimum credit hours required by the Hague Convention. These services, along with the other amenities available to CAN families, are designed to make your international adoption process as effortless and enjoyable as possible. These fees are not included in any item listed above.
The international adoption process requires proper document preparation, filing and approval with the USCIS. Adoptive families are responsible for paying the set fees associated with each step. International adoption also involves traveling to the foreign country from which you are adopting. Travel costs include airfare, accommodations, meals and ground transportation, in addition to the requirements for your child(ren)’s entry into the U.S. (a visa and its required medical exam, as well as airfare). All fees are set by and are paid to third parties and may vary from case to case. These fees are not listed above.
For more details on the adoption process and estimated costs, request our CAN Outreach Guide.
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Uganda Adoption Process
1. Application and Approval
To adopt a child(ren), please complete our agency application. For your convenience, you may access the application online here to apply. If you have any concerns about eligibility requirements, please contact us before filling out this application. We will review your eligibility to adopt from Uganda based on the guidelines of Uganda's adoption eligibility requirements once we have received your application. If approved, we will provide you with our agency contract that outlines our fees, services and important information regarding the international adoption process. Upon receipt of your signed contract, CAN will start to provide you with placement services for a child(ren) from Uganda.
2. The Paper Chase
Once your agency contract is in place, it is time to start assembling your dossier. This will include a home study, which will assess your readiness for international adoption from Uganda and help prepare you for adoptive parenthood, filing with USCIS for international adoption approval, and gathering your dossier documents. These dossier documents must go through the appropriate notarization and certification, as well as authentication by the Ugandan Embassy in the U.S. Your dossier will be reviewed and assembled at our headquarters in Austin, TX, before being sent to the Ugandan adoption authorities for approval. CAN offers a complete Elite Dossier Service to ease your international adoption process and give you peace of mind.
To ensure that prospective adoptive parents are prepared for their international adoption journey, our agency requires that parents complete 10 hours of adoption training as mandated by the Hague Convention. To satisfy these hours, we have developed an online parent training program that we are proud to include in CAN’s service plan. For an overview of the program, please click here. Please contact us for more information regarding adoption from Uganda.
3. Identifying a Child(ren)
Once your dossier is approved by the Ugandan court and orphanage, a child(ren) is identified based on your preferences for gender, age and health status. You will receive a description of the child, including the child’s history, medical test results and photos with your referral.
4. Picking Up Your Child(ren)
Once you have been matched with your child, you must travel to accept the referral in person. Adoptive parents may choose to travel for one trip of about 5-6 weeks or two trips of about 2-3 weeks to Uganda. Our experienced and caring Uganda team will meet you at the Kampala airport, accompany you to all adoption-related appointments, act as your translator, and assist you with your daily activities. Families must visit the U.S. Embassy immediately upon arrival in the country to begin the visa paperwork or the travel time may be longer. During the first trip of two weeks, you will spend time living near the orphanage with your child so you have a chance to bond with your child, meet the orphanage staff and caretakers, and even volunteer at the baby home. After this bonding trip, parents may choose to remain in Uganda and tour the country or leave and return after about two weeks. We will set your court date, and both parents must attend the court hearings. After the court hearings and legal guardianship is granted, one parent may leave. Once guardianship is granted, parents will visit the U.S. Embassy to finalize their adoptive child's U.S. entry visa.
5. Post-Adoption Requirements
Parents must file for adoption in a U.S. state court within three months of returning home to finalize the adoption. In addition, three post-placement reports are required at the first, second and third month after you arrive home. These reports demonstrate to the Ugandan government the benefits of international adoption for their children. Your new life with your child now begins!
Uganda Resources
Books for Parents
Stories, History and Culture of Uganda
Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda's Children by Faith J. H. McDonnell and Grace Akallo
Transcendent Spirit: The Orphans of Uganda by Douglas Menuez
Culture and Customs of Uganda (Culture and Customs of Africa) by Kefa M. Otiso
Raising a Transracial Child
Black Baby White Hands: A View from the Crib by Jaiya John (Soul Water Rising 2005)
In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Professor Rita J. Simon, Professor Rhonda M. Roorda (Columbia University Press 2000
Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child: From Your First Hours Together Through the Teen Years by Patty Cogen (Harvard Common Press 2008)
The Connected Child: Bring hope and healing to your adoptive family by Karyn Purvis, David Cross, Wendy Sunshine (McGraw-Hill 2007)
Adoption in the Classroom
Adoption and the Schools: A Resource Guide for Parents and Teachers by Lansing Wood, Nancy Ng (Families Adopting in Response
Adoption Parenting: Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections by Jean MacLeod, Sheena Macrae (EMK Press 2006)
Issues in Adoption
Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew
by Sherrie Eldridge (Delta 1999)
Parenting the Hurt Child : Helping Adoptive Families Heal and Grow by Gregory C. Keck, Regina M. Kupecky, Lynda Gianforte Mansfield (Pinion Press 2002)
Travel
Uganda, 6th (Bradt Travel Guide Uganda) by Philip Briggs and Andrew Roberts >
Africa's Top Wildlife Countries: Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe by Mark W. Nolting
Cooking and Cuisine
The Food Holiday Uganda by Erika Henson
Children's Books
Beatrice's Goat by Page McBrier (Author) and Lori Lohstoeter (Illustrator)
Africa Is Not A Country by Margy Burns Knight
I Wished for You: an Adoption Story (Mom's Choice Award Recipient, Book of the Year Award, Creative Child Magazine) by Marianne R. Richmond (Marianne Richmond Studios 2008
A Blessing from Above (Little Golden Book) by Patti Henderson, Elizabeth Edge (Golden Books 2004)
A Mother for Choco (Paperstar) by Keiko Kasza (Putnam Juvenile 1996)
Horace > by Holly Keller (HarperCollins 1991)
Articles
Hope for Uganda's Child Soldiers? - TIME Magazine
Child Restoration Outreach Gives New Hope to Uganda's Street Children
Adoptive Families, the online adoption and parenting guide, has provided trusted adoption information and inspiration to families for over 30 years.
Raising A Child of Another Race - Deliberate Parenting Can Make a Difference
How to Be an Adoption Advocate
Nature & Nurture: A New Look at How Families Work
Helping Classmates Understand Adoption
Websites
Official State websites
U.S. Embassy in Kampala, Uganda Official Embassy news and updates on Services for U.S. citizens
United States Citizen and Immigration Services U.S. requirements for permanent citizenship for adoptees
Health and Wellness
The Orphan Doctor - Highlights common ailments of adopted children
Support and Education
National Council for Adoption
Joint Council on International Children's Services
C.A.S.E -- Center for Adoption Support and Education
Adoption Learning Partners
North American Council on Adoptable Children
Yahoo! International Adoption Groups Search Page
