In Re: Harry John Shilling (An infant) (Adoption Cause No. 15 of 1991) [1991] UGHC 6 (23 December 1991)
Full Case Text
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JOHN}{\ul\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 SHILLING}{\ul\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 (AN}{\ul\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 }{ \ul\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 INFANT) }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 \line BEFORE:. }{\ul\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 Th}{\ul\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 e}{\ul\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 }{\ul\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 H}{ \ul\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 o}{\ul\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 no}{\ul\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 urab1e. Ag. }{\ul\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 Justice M. Kireju. \line }{\ul\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 RULING }{ \ul\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1189932 {\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 \line This adoption petition }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 was}{ \insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 filed, by the. }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 Petitioners}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 Steven Anthony Shining and Judith Shilling, the petitioners }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 ar}{ \insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 e husband and wife and they were married on }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 10}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 /1}{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 2/87 i}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 n the Republic of Botswana, the marriage certificate was presented before court. }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 \par }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 \line At the hearing of the petition, Steven Shilling was }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 represented}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 by h}{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 is brother in law Mr. Steven Ss}{ \insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 ekannyo who was granted power of attorney to act on his behalf in }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 the}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 proceeding}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 . Judith Shilling was }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 present in person, and}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 the mother of }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 the infant \line Divi}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 na , Babirye with the baby were }{ \insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 also presen}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 t. }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 \par }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 \line The petition i}{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 s}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 supported by the aff}{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 ida}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 vits}{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 of }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 Jud}{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 ith Shilling and Steven Ssekann}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 yo. From the two affidavits with }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 annexure}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 thereto and }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 the}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 submission by the counsel for }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 the}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 petitioners, the following information has been noted. }{ \insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 \par }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 \line The petitioners Mr. & Mrs. Steven shilling both are British citizen and resident in }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 Botswan}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 a. }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 The petitioners }{ \insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 are}{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 both teachers aged }{\i\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 38 }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 and }{\i\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 47 }{ \insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 years respectively, they do no have any child of their own or any }{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 person resident with }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 them. Steven Shilling is th}{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 e father of Harry John shilling the }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 child}{\insrsid2629063\charrsid1189932 to }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 be adopted, and Judith S}{\insrsid1189932 hilling is related to the said }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 child \line \par }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 The}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 applicant}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 is the father of the infant }{\b\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 namely Steven Shilling. }{ \insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 The consent }{\i\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 o}{\i\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 f }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 the parent or guardian of the infant as required under section 4(3) of the }{ \insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 Act ha}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 s been received from }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 Divin}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 i }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 Babirye}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 the mother of the infa}{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 nt, And Steven Ssekannyo who has}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 been looking after the infant, section4 (}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 4) has also been complied with as evidenced by the affidavit sworn by Judith Shilling where she agreed with her husband to adopt the infant. \line Section }{\i\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 4(5) }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 of the }{\insrsid1189932 A}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 ct is as follows; \line }{\insrsid1189932 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li720\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid1189932 {\i\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 \'93An adoption order shall not be made in \line favour of any applicant unless he is a British subject or a citizen of Uganda and is resident in Uganda or in }{\i\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 respect of any infant unless he}{\i\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 is a British subject or a citizen o}{ \i\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 f Uganda and}{\i\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 is }{\i\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 resident in Eas}{\i\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 t Africa }{\i\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 \'93 \par }\pard \s15\ql \li0\ri0\sb100\sa240\sbauto1\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1189932 {\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 \line In the affidavit of Judith Shilling }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 and}{ \insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 in the petition }{\b\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 it }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 is specifically stated that t}{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 he petitioners are resident at Tsabong in Bots}{ \insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 wana and they are both British citizens. \line The petitioners do not satisfy the requirements under this sub\emdash section as they are not resident in Uganda}{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 . The wordi}{\insrsid1189932 ng of }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 the section is mandatory; no}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 discretion is left to the court. \line Generally the law relating to adoption of children }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 is very strict, an}{ \insrsid1189932 d }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 it}{\insrsid1189932 i}{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 s regrettable that}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 this law has not been looked at since 1964 and some of the previsions }{ \insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 are}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 not up\emdash to\emdash date with the changes which have taken place in our society. However, until the law is amended, my hands are tied. \line In }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 the resul}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 t, I cannot grant an adoption order as the \line petitioners are not resident in Uganda. \line The petition is accordingly dismissed}{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 }{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 Judith Shilli}{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 ng to \line bear the cost of this pe}{\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 tition. \line KIREJU \par }{\insrsid1189932\charrsid1189932 23/12/91 \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid1189932 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid9663784\charrsid1189932 \line \par }}