Uganda announces surrogacy legislation to regulate assisted reproduction

Ugandan Parliament has taken a step towards comprehensive regulation of surrogacy as a bill, aiming to restrict its use to individuals facing infertility or health challenges preventing natural reproduction.

The proposed legislation, known as the Human-Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, was presented by Ugandan Member of Parliament Sarah Opendi on Tuesday.

Among its key provisions is the establishment of a minimum age requirement for surrogates, setting it at 18 years.

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the bill is the stringent penalties it proposes for medical practitioners found in violation of its provisions. If passed, practitioners who defy the stipulated regulations could face imprisonment for up to five years.

Also, severe consequences, including life imprisonment, await those who use their own gametes or embryos, or those not selected by their clients.

The legislation also imposes strict criteria on donors, mandating that they must be free of genetic diseases. Furthermore, the bill aims to license fertility centers and regulate the donation and storage of sperm, oocytes, and embryos.

Ugandan MP Sarah Opendi emphasized the broader scope of the bill, asserting that it proposes more comprehensive regulations for various aspects of human-assisted reproduction.

In addition to addressing surrogacy, the bill seeks to introduce protections for children born through assisted reproduction, marking a significant stride towards safeguarding the rights and well-being of such individuals.

Should the bill be enacted into law, Uganda would become a global benchmark for legislating assisted reproduction, according to statements attributed to Ms. Opendi in the private Daily Monitor newspaper.