[2005] UGHC 30

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\rsid660964\rsid870678\rsid1137284\rsid1657016\rsid1670442\rsid1729404\rsid2491036\rsid3101163\rsid4066118\rsid4614757\rsid5707631\rsid6047941\rsid6365177\rsid6623286\rsid7291405\rsid7300234 \rsid8217165\rsid9010878\rsid9206273\rsid9322982\rsid9594761\rsid10231587\rsid11478734\rsid11549934\rsid11559405\rsid12940516\rsid13309574\rsid13394475\rsid14371218\rsid15622506\rsid15892278\rsid16016944\rsid16321881\rsid16343593\rsid16477695} {\*\generator Microsoft Word 11.0.5604;}{\info{\title THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA}{\author amilly}{\operator owner}{\creatim\yr2008\mo3\dy25\hr14\min36}{\revtim\yr2008\mo3\dy25\hr14\min36}{\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages4}{\nofwords1138}{\nofchars6490} {\*\company Pcc}{\nofcharsws7613}{\vern24689}}\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\formshade\horzdoc\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1701\dgvorigin1984\dghshow0\dgvshow0 \jexpand\viewkind1\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\nolnhtadjtbl\nojkernpunct\rsidroot660964 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\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9206273 \fs20\lang1033\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp2057 {\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid8217165\charrsid11549934 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid8217165\charrsid11549934 FAMILY CAUSE NO 061 OF 2005 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid4066118 [}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11549934\charrsid11549934 In The Matter Of Salem Mukiibi and Ashaf Ssemakula (Minors)}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid8217165\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11549934\charrsid11549934 And}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid8217165\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11549934\charrsid11549934 In The Matter Of an Application by Hoffman Edward and Olivia Nakawungu Hoffman, Brother-Law and Sister, Respectively}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid4066118 ]}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid4614757 .}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid8217165 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid4614757\charrsid11549934 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid9206273 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11549934\charrsid11549934 21}{ \b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\super\langnp2057\insrsid11549934\charrsid11549934 st}{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11549934 October }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11549934\charrsid11549934 2005 \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11549934 \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid8217165\charrsid11549934 BEFORE: HON. MR. JUSTICE ELDAD MWANGUSYA: \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid8217165\charrsid11549934 \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid8217165\charrsid11549934 RULINGS: \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid8217165\charrsid11549934 This is an application by a notice of motion for guardianship and custody of SALEM MUKIIBI and ASHAF SEMAKULA both described as minors by HOFFMAN EDWARD and OLIVIA NAKAWU NGU HOFFMAN described as their brother in law and sister respectively. The applicants are citizens of the }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11559405\charrsid11549934 United State of America.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid8217165\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11559405\charrsid11549934 \par The application is supported by the affidavits of both }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid3101163\charrsid11549934 applicants that}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11559405\charrsid11549934 of Imelda Namutebi, mother of both minors and a report of the probation and welfare officer, Mwanga II Road Kampala. \par \par From my perusal of this application}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11549934 ,}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid16477695\charrsid11549934 I am satisfied about the suitability of the applicants to provide for the two minors \rquote welfare in accordance with the children act in which the welfare}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid16343593\charrsid11549934 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid1729404\charrsid11549934 pr inciple is provided for in section 3 and the first schedule to the act. I will also take into account the probation and welfare officer\rquote s report in which he states \'93 that the application by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hoffman for legal guardianship of the children, Mulubi Salem and Semekula Asafu is appropriate. The children are now going to get proper care maintanance and }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11549934\charrsid11549934 guidance, which}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid1729404\charrsid11549934 they could not get from their parents. There is hope that their future shall be bright in case the prospective legal guardians fully take over the responsibility for these two children.\'94 The probation officer came to this conclusion after taking into account the views of the children themselves who expressed their desire to stay with the second applicant who is their sister. Their mother has no objection }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid13394475\charrsid11549934 to the arrangement either (see her affidavit attached to the application).}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11559405\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid13394475\charrsid11549934 In the }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid3101163\charrsid11549934 circumstances,}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid13394475\charrsid11549934 I will grant this application and appoint HOFFMAN EDWARD and OLINA NAKAWUNGU HOFFMAN legal guardians }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid6047941\charrsid11549934 of SALEM MUKUBI and ASHAF SEMA KULA both minors. The guardians shall have legal custody of the infants and be at liberty to take the infants to any part of Uganda or outside Uganda, so long as the infants remain in their minority or until further orders issued by this court.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid13394475\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid6047941\charrsid11549934 \par Eldad Mwangusya \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid6047941\charrsid11549934 JUDGE \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid6047941\charrsid11549934 21/10/2005 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid1137284\charrsid11549934 \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid660964\charrsid9206273 \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid660964\charrsid4066118 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS: \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid660964\charrsid11549934 \par 17/10/2005 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid660964\charrsid11549934 Ms. Nakacwa Florence for the applicants both of whom are in courts. \par Both infants, subject of the application are in court. \par Ms. Nakibuka Mariam court clerk. \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid660964\charrsid11549934 Mr. Nakacwa: \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid660964\charrsid11549934 The applicants are husband and this Hon. Court for orders of guardianship and }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7300234\charrsid11549934 custody of the two minors. This application is brought under S.14 of Judicature Act and S.3,4 and 5 and 47 of children\rquote s Acted S.98 of CPA.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid660964\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7300234\charrsid11549934 \par This application is further supported by affidavits of both applicants and that }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid1657016\charrsid11549934 of Namutebi Imelda mother of the two minors and the second applicant.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7300234\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid1657016\charrsid11549934 There is a probation report of Mr. Sozi Elisha }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid6623286\charrsid11549934 probation officer at Mwanga II Court.}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid1657016\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid6623286\charrsid11549934 The second applicant is a biological sister to the humours. She has lived with them since they were born till March 2003 when she travelled to USA to live with her husband (the 1}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\super\langnp2057\insrsid6623286\charrsid11549934 st}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid6623286\charrsid11549934 applicant). The applicants got married in Uganda on 20/6/2001. Annexture \'93A\'94 is a copy of the ir marriage certificate and again wedded at St. Steven Kisubi Church of Uganda as per Annexture \'93B\'94. \par \par The applicants lived as a couple in Uganda and with the children. They lived in Buziga and Kansanga till March 2003 when they left for the USA. The 2}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\super\langnp2057\insrsid6623286\charrsid11549934 nd}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid6623286\charrsid11549934 applicant visited the minors in November 2004 up to January 2005. They have been living with the children since August 2005 till now. \par \par The applicants have been paying school fees for the children and paying for their up keeping but were not satisfied with the care given by their biological mother who is a single mother and unemployed. The two minors were }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7291405\charrsid11549934 born outside Wedlock to Imelda Namutebi and one, Michael Mutyaba who abandoned them in 2000.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid6623286\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7291405\charrsid11549934 \par The 2}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\super\langnp2057\insrsid7291405\charrsid11549934 nd}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7291405\charrsid11549934 applicant is from another relationship. His father was called Isail Mayinja. The applicants have been helping to bring up the infants. It is their desire to be appointed guardians and custodia}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid9206273 n}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7291405\charrsid11549934 s}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid9206273 to}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7291405\charrsid11549934 look after them in the USA. }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid16321881\charrsid11549934 \par \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7291405\charrsid11549934 The biological mother has given her consent to the guardianship and she has stated in her affidavit (see paragraph 10). She has not seen the father of the children since he deserted them in 2000. }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid16321881\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7291405\charrsid11549934 The applicants have fostered the child}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid16321881\charrsid11549934 ren and the children are fond}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7291405\charrsid11549934 of them.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid9206273 The }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 1}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\super\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 st}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 applicant is an American citizen born on 15/3/4 8. He is a former marine sergeant. He earns $3,500 US dollars as stated in his affidavit. Annextures \'93Cr\'94 and \lquote I\rquote rel}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid16321881\charrsid11549934 a}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 te to his citizenship and identity card.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid7291405\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 \par The applicants have already shown parental responsibility. They understand their responsibility as guardians. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid15622506\charrsid11549934

}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 \par The }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid9206273\charrsid11549934 second}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 applicant is a permanent resident of USA as per }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid9206273\charrsid11549934 annexure}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 \'93A\'94. She is Ugandan citizen as evidence in }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid9206273\charrsid11549934 Annexure}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid15622506\charrsid11549934 \'93H\'94}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 of her affidavit. \par \par The children who are subject }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid1670442\charrsid11549934 of this application are Ugandans (see birth certificates attached).}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid2491036\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid1670442\charrsid11549934 \par If application is granted it will be for the welfare of children who have a bright future in the hands of the applicants. \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid9010878\charrsid11549934 \par The 2}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\super\langnp2057\insrsid9010878\charrsid11549934 nd}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid9010878\charrsid11549934 applicant is employ ed as a chef and she earns $25,000 per annum after tax. The applicants desire to travel with children and live with them in the USA. }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid15622506\charrsid11549934 \par \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid9010878\charrsid11549934 We pray that court disposes with consent of biological father S.47 of children act as mother has consented.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 }{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid15622506\charrsid11549934 \par \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 I pray for grant.}{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid9010878\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 Court: \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 Ruling on 20/10/2005 at 2.00 p.m. \par \par Eldad Mwangusya \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 JUDGE \par }{\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 17/10/2005 \par \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid15622506\charrsid11549934 \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 Ms. Florence Nakacwa for the applicants both of whom are in court. \par Ms. Nakibuka court clerk. \par \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 Court: \par }{\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 Ruling signed and read in open court. \par \par Eldad Mwangusya \par }{\b\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 JUDGE \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4066118 {\b\fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11478734\charrsid11549934 21/10/2005}{ \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\langnp2057\insrsid11549934\charrsid11549934 \par }}