Moses Mukiibi, a retired High Court Justice, has firmly questioned the unfair sanctions slapped against him by the United States government over allegations of phony and corrupt adoption schemes.
This comes after the United States imposed financial sanctions and visa restrictions on four Ugandan nationals for allegedly running a corrupt adoption scheme.
The four nationals included the judges Moses Mukiibi, Wilson Musalu Musene, Ugandan lawyer Dorah Mirembe and her associate Patrick Ecobu. They’re accused of running a scam involving children taken from their families and put up for adoption by American parents.
According to a statement issued by the US Department of State, the government designated these four individuals pursuant to Executive Order 13818 which builds upon and ensures the implementation of the Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
In response to the accusations that he termed “frivolous”, Justice Mukiibi said the US justice the system did not get to hear his side of the story before slapping the sanctions onto them. He further questioned how the said scam would happen under the US Embassy in Kampala yet it’s common practice that the involved parties are interviewed prior.
“The Embassy used to carry out independent investigation; they would only issue visas to applicants/ adopters after them being satisfied.”
Justice Mukiibi said that the process of adoption involved thorough scrutiny of applicants including physical attendance of court, interviews, letters of recommendation from friends/acquaintances of the applicant, home study report from a social worker in the USA, police clearance in the applicant’s state among others.
The Court process he adds, involved acquisition of consent from the child’s surviving parents,relatives or guardian ensuring that the consent is obtained on freewill. His statement providing further information regarding the matter was copied to the Chief
Registrar of the Judiciary, the Head of the Family Division High Court, the Chairperson of the Judicial Service Commission and the President of the Uganda Law Society.
