Browsing by Author "Mackleen Grace Nyangoma"

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    The Legal Framework Regulating Illicit Human Organ Transplant and Donation in Uganda
    (Uganda Christian University, 2024-06-11) Mackleen Grace Nyangoma
    The study aimed at assessing the existing legal framework regulating illicit human organ transplant and donation in Uganda. The study objectives were: to ascertain the rationale behind the illicit human organ trafficking/ harvesting and transplant donation, to assess the impact of Illicit human organ harvesting/ trafficking on victims and their relatives, to discover the impact of the national legislations Uganda Human Organ Donation and Transplant Act in minimising illicit human organ harvesting and transplant, and to identify the gaps in the existing legal framework regulating human organ transplant and donation. The study employed a descriptive research design with majorly qualitative aspect. The study was majorly desktop research. Data was analysed qualitatively. The stud findings revealed that adequate legislation, ethical frameworks, regulatory oversight and governance are essential for the legal and ethical practice of tissue and organ procurement for transplants in order to meet the needs of recipients, protect donors and ensuring the dignity of everyone involved in the process. Uganda has legal framework regulating illicit human organ transplant and donations, mainly the Uganda Human Organ and Transplant Act, 2022; and the Declaration of Istanbul on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism, 2008. It is revealed that the existing legal framework has helped to minimize on the human organ trafficking and regulating the transplant tourism. It also regulates the conduct of donation and transplant activities, with the establishment of the Uganda Organ and Transplant Council to oversee organ and cell donation as well as transplantation of organs. In Uganda, having designated Mulago National Referral Hospital as transplant centre, the national programs donation and transplantation of organs, cells and tissues is not consolidated. Indeed, these programs gad generally inadequate infrastructures, lack of technical expertise, including competent human resources, insufficient institutional support, and technology. Furthermore, the lack of public education, awareness and motivation for organ donation in Uganda especially barriers of cultural, religious and social traditions create barriers limiting access to donation and transplantation services. The study recommended that organ trafficking and transplant tourism violate the principles of equity, justice and respect for human dignity, and should be prohibited; and areas of further research were suggested.