US Sanctions Four Ugandans Over Adoption Scam That Exploited Vulnerable Families

Washington D.C. - A Major Blow to Human Rights Abusers

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken a significant step in combating human rights abuse by sanctioning four Ugandan individuals involved in an adoption scam that exploited vulnerable families and separated children from their parents.

The Scheme Uncovered

According to OFAC, the four individuals - two judges, a lawyer, and her husband - participated in a scheme where they deceived Uganda-born children’s families into giving up their kids under false pretenses. The children were promised “special education” programs and study opportunities in the US, only to be offered for adoption to unsuspecting American families.

The scheme involved:

• Manipulating or falsifying court documents
• Using intermediaries to seek out remote villages
• Exploiting parents who could not read or write English

Once removed from their homes, many of the children were placed in unlicensed orphanages in Kampala, Uganda, before being adopted by American families.

Bribes and Corruption

The lawyer and her husband paid bribes to Ugandan judges and officials to facilitate the adoptions. The sanctions imposed on the four individuals are in accordance with Executive Order 13818, which targets human rights abusers and corrupt officials worldwide.

US Government Condemns Exploitation

The US government has condemned the exploitation of vulnerable families and children, stating that it “causes great suffering” and undermines the values of stable societies. The sanctions aim to hold accountable those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption.

Consequences of Sanctions

As a result of the sanctions:

• All property and interests in property owned by the four individuals or their entities in the US or controlled by US persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.
• Any transactions involving these individuals or their assets are prohibited unless authorized by OFAC or exempted.

Part of Global Efforts

The sanctions are part of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which aims to impose tangible consequences on those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption. The US government has also imposed visa restrictions on two of the sanctioned individuals under a separate law.

Full List of Designated Individuals

The full list of designated individuals can be found here.