Uganda

 

Come experience "The Pearl" of Africa. This East Africa country brims with natural beauty that extends to the approximately 2.3 million orphans looking for a forever family.  The country’s largest city is Kampala, which is also the country’s capital and economic, cultural, and educational center. The extreme economic circumstances in Uganda and have led to an ever increasing number of displaced orphans. Many orphanages struggle daily to provide for the basic needs of each child, and yet the workers seem incredibly pleasant and professional and the children are well cared for. Still, countless precious children in every town and village throughout the country need the security and love that only a true family can bring.

 

Lifeline is a state-licensed, non-profit ministry that exists to both place these children in a safe and loving home and provide services to Christian families desiring to adopt. Lifeline launched its adoption ministry in Uganda in the summer of 2008 with a vision to help find loving, Christian homes for these amazing children who otherwise might never experience the love and care from having a family of their own. Adopting a child from Uganda is a wonderful way to add a member to your family and provide a child a loving home. Lifeline invites you to open your heart and take this incredible journey of faith to Uganda.

 

The adoption process begins with a home study report. This report consists of four interviews with a social worker as well as various accompanying documents that will be gathered during the process. Lifeline will complete the home study report for families residing in the state of Alabama and help families residing outside of Alabama to be referred to a home study provider in your state of residence. During the home study report process, you will also apply to Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) as well as begin gathering documents for your Dossier. The documents that make up your Dossier will be verified through a series of stages that will include notarization and certification by the Secretary of State. After Lifeline has helped you complete this process, we will check your Dossier for accuracy before it is sent to Uganda. Your Dossier will then be sent to our lawyer/facilitator in Uganda who will make a final check for accuracy before delivering your Dossier to the Department of Youth and Child Affairs-Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development. 

 

Once your Dossier has been sent to the Ministry of Gender, we will wait for them to review and approve your Dossier. When this approval process has been completed, we will then await an invitation for your family to travel to Uganda (usually 2 to 3 months). This invitation will require you to be in Uganda on a certain date for an appointment at the Department of Youth and Child Affairs-Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development.  In most cases, potential referrals will be sent to the family in advance of travel, unless they have a specific child already selected from a previous visit to the country. After accepting your referral, your child will be delivered to you (in most cases) and can stay with you while the official documents for legal guardianship are being prepared and authorized (usually around 2 weeks).
 

Your in-country travel will involve most of your time being spent in Kampala, where the Department of Youth and Child Affairs-Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development is located, as well as time spent in the town where your child’s orphanage is located. Your time spent in country will vary, depending on the region where your child’s orphanage is located. Part of your trip will also involve a court hearing presided over by a judge in your child’s region. Once the court hearing has been completed, you will be able to travel back to Kampala with your child to visit the U.S. Embassy. It will be at the U.S. Embassy that you will receive your child(ren)’s visa to be able to come home. When this process has been completed, you will return home with your child! Our facilitation team in Uganda will be with you throughout your entire stay, helping you through each stage of the legal guardianship/adoption process. You will be well taken care of by our staff throughout your stay in Uganda!

 

We are anticipating high interest in our Uganda program because of the benefits of a potentially shorter process (average of 3 months after dossier is submitted), less expensive, and the ability to adopt young children from a "healthy" list (Special needs children are also available by request).  Lifeline looks forward to the privilege of serving your family throughout your adoption journey. Start your journey here by searching our website for valuable information that will help you through the Uganda adoption process.