Adoptive parents and advocates have called upon government to ease the stringent adoption regulations that they say are preventing many vulnerable children from finding homes.
They urge policymakers to revise existing adoption laws and create a system that prioritizes every child’s right to grow up in a family.
Moses Maanyi, a 35-year-old who has built a loving home with his wife and children, is a powerful advocate for adoption. Observing his family, one might think he grew up in a warm, nurturing home himself.
However, Maanyi’s story is one of resilience; his own mother abandoned him at Mulago Hospital when he was only three years old.
Medical personnel found Maanyi and handed him over to a children’s organization after attempts to locate his family failed.
“I grew up thinking the people at the organization were my real family. But when I was around ten, I started to question why I wore the same clothes as the other children, and eventually, they told me the truth.”
Maanyi recalls that at age 20, a close friend from school approached him with a profound offer—to officially adopt him as a brother after learning of Maanyi’s background.
“It was the first time I felt truly connected, like I had family.”
Sheila Kawamara, an adoptive parent, echoes the struggles of many prospective adoptive parents. She explains that they often face daunting challenges due to strict government-imposed processes.
“We have to navigate these processes carefully, yet even with these challenges, we find ways to explain our children’s backgrounds to them as they grow.”
Kawamara adds that despite the difficulties, they find moments to sit down with their adopted children and explain their origins.
For Maanyi, challenges didn’t stop at acceptance; he faced stigma and rejection from his community, endured endless questions, and even grappled with psychological impacts from his past experiences.
Zainah Nakuburwa, KCCA’s Child Welfare Officer, cites poverty, early pregnancies, and fear of responsibility as the main reasons contributing to high abandonment rates.
“The rate of child abandonment continues to rise due to socioeconomic pressures and lack of support for young mothers.”
November 9 marks the national day for celebrating adopted children.
According to KCCA, an estimated 68 children are abandoned in Kampala each year, with only about 10 of them finding permanent families through adoption.
Advocates hope that with greater awareness and updated policies, more children will have the chance to experience family life and overcome the barriers in the adoption system.