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In Re: Meliza Nabwire (An Infant); In Re: An Application for Legal Guardianship by Glenn Ralph Stocks and Kathleen Best Stocka (Family Cause No 73 of 2005) (Family Cause No. 73 of 2005) [2006] UGHC 8 (28 February 2006)
- Citation
- [2006] UGHC 8
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Uganda
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Posture
- Family Cause / Ruling
- Case number
- Family Cause No. 73 of 2005
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- High Court of Uganda
- Posture
- Family Cause / Ruling
- Case number
- Family Cause No. 73 of 2005
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The court found that the applicants have demonstrated sufficient moral and financial capacity to care for Meliza Nabwire, an abandoned infant suffering from multiple disabilities. The applicants have fostered the child for an extended period, intend to adopt her, and have shown genuine affection and commitment to her welfare. No parent or other claimant has come forward. Applying the principle that the child's welfare is paramount, the court determined that appointing the applicants as guardians would best serve the interests and rights of the child.
Court disposition
application_allowed
Orders
- Glenn Ralph Stocks and Kathleen Best Stocks are appointed guardians of Meliza Nabwire, an infant.
- The applicants are to bear the costs of this application.
02
Material facts
Parties
Glenn Ralph Stocks
ApplicantKathleen Best Stocks
ApplicantMeliza Nabwire
Respondent03
Procedural history
Posture
Family Cause / Ruling
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the applicants should be appointed legal guardians of Meliza Nabwire, an abandoned infant.
- 02
Whether the proposed guardianship advances the welfare and rights of the infant.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The applicants, Glenn Ralph Stocks and Kathleen Best Stocks, are United States citizens residing in Uganda since May 2003. They have sufficient income, good moral standing, and have been fostering Meliza Nabwire since September 2004. The infant was abandoned, her parents are unknown, and no claim of parentage was made despite public notice. The applicants intend to adopt her after the fostering period and undertake to ensure her welfare.
- Respondent
- No respondent appeared or opposed the application. The infant's parents are unknown and no response was made to the public notice seeking parentage.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
Re Jane Namukasa (An infant) [1992-1993] HCB 200.
The paramount consideration in guardianship matters is the advancement of the general welfare and rights of the child.
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The court found that the applicants have demonstrated sufficient moral and financial capacity to care for Meliza Nabwire, an abandoned infant suffering from multiple disabilities. The applicants have fostered the child for an extended period, intend to adopt her, and have shown genuine affection and commitment to her welfare. No parent or other claimant has come forward. Applying the principle that the child's welfare is paramount, the court determined that appointing the applicants as guardians would best serve the interests and rights of the child.
Obiter and limits
- The infant looked very happy in the company of the applicants, who are fond of her as their natural child.
- Both applicants and the infant were physically observed by court.
Court disposition
application_allowed
- Glenn Ralph Stocks and Kathleen Best Stocks are appointed guardians of Meliza Nabwire, an infant.
- The applicants are to bear the costs of this application.
Source and reliance status
High Court of Uganda
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
High Court of Uganda
Judgment
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)}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par }{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 IN THE HIGH COURT OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par }\pard\plain \s2\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 \b\f41\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f0\insrsid10386596 FAMILY CAUSE NO}{ \f0\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 73 OF 2005 \par }\pard\plain \s15\qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 \f41\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\f0\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 IN THE MATTER OF MELIZA NABWIRE (An infant) \par }\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 AND \par IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION FOR LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP BY GLENN }{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 RALPH }{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 STOCKS AND KATHLEEN }{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 BEST
}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 STOCKS}{ \insrsid1647769 \par }{\insrsid10386596\charrsid10386596 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 {\b\insrsid10386596\charrsid10386596 28}{\b\super\insrsid10386596\charrsid10386596 th}{\b\insrsid10386596\charrsid10386596 February}{ \b\insrsid10386596\charrsid10386596 }{\b\insrsid10386596\charrsid10386596 2006 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 {\b\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 \par }\pard\plain \s1\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 \b\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\ul\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 BEFORE: AG. JUDGE REMMY K. KASULE \par }\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\ul\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 \par }\pard\plain \s1\ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 \b\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\ul\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 RULING \par }\pard\plain \ql
\li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid10386596 {\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 This is an application for a guardianship order. \par \par Glenn}{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 Ralph }{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 Stocks and Kathleen}{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 Best}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 Stocks, both applicants, apply to be appointed guardians of Meliza Nabwire, an infant. \par \par The applicants are United States Citizens and are husband and wife. They have been in Uganda since May 2003. Glenn }{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 Ralph }{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 Stocks is Area leaf manager, East Africa, of British American Tobacco. Kathleen}{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 Best}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 Stocks is a house wife. They both have enough income to support the infant. They are of good moral standing and are highly recommended by the Local Council 1, A}{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 ll}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 Saints Village, Nakasero II, Kampala, where they reside. \par \par The infant, Meliza Nabwire, is three years old, and was met by the applicants at
Sanyu Babies Home in February 200}{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 4}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 ; after she had been abandoned at St. Balikuddembe Market, Kampala, on or about 20}{\super\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 th}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 May 2002. \par \par The parents of the infant are unknown. No response was made to the newspaper advert published in the New Vision Newspaper of 6}{\super\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 th}{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 October, 2005 calling fo r the parentage of the infant.}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 \par \par Since 18}{\super\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 th}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 September, 2004, the applicants have been fostering the infant at their home in Nakasero, Kampala. \par \par Medical examination of the infant has shown the infant suffering from cerebral palsy, deafness, impaired vision and }{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 deformity}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 of the left leg. \par \par The applicants intend to ultimately adopt the infant once they have completed the fostering period of thirty six months. They undertake to ensure the infant\rquote s general welfare. \par \par Both applicants and the infant were physically observed by court. \par The applicants are fond of the infant as their natural child. The infant looked very happy in their company. \par \par The duty of
this court is to ensure that what order is made is for the advancement of the general welfare and }{\insrsid7475090\charrsid10386596 r}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 ights of the infant: }{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 See: }{ \b\i\ul\insrsid1647769\charrsid13765196 Re Jane Namukasa (An infants) [1992-1993] HCB 200.}{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 \par }{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 This court is satisfied that a guardianship order, once made, will advance the welfare of this infant. \par Accordingly this application is allowed. GLENN RALPH STOCKS and KATHLEEN BEST STOCKS are hereby appointed guardians of MELIZA NABWIRE, an infant. \par \par The applicants are to bear the costs of this Application. \par \par }{\insrsid1647769\charrsid10386596 Remmy Kasule \par Ag. Judge \par }}
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