Madonna - Reuters

LILONGWE, Malawi (AP)

Preparations are under way for a return visit to Malawi by pop star Madonna, who is adopting a child from the southern African country where her charity does work among its many AIDS orphans.

The orphanages and care centres she has been involved with have been freshly painted and spruced up, while security around the exclusive lodge where the star stayed last year has been tightened.

Madonna's plans to adopt toddler David Banda sparked an inter-national controversy and raised concerns that regulations were being swept aside to benefit a pop star who has been generous to the country.

The star is expected to fly into the country Monday, but there has been no confirmation of this. It is also not clear whether she will be accompanied by David or any other members of her family.

Rumours that the celebrity was to adopt another child have been strongly denied.

Madonna's New York-based publicist Liz Rosenberg said the star was going to Africa to continue her work with the Raising Malawi organisation.

"She is overseeing the building of a children's health care centre. She is absolutely not adopting another baby," she said in a statement.

Yacinta Chapomba, a director of local aid group Consol Homes, which has been involved with Madonna's organisation in the building of a children's care centre, said an official opening ceremony would be held at the centre Monday. She could not confirm whether the star would attend.

The centre in the impoverished village of Mphandula, 50 kilometers (30 miles) outside the capital, Lilongwe, will initially house 400 children who lost their parents to AIDS.

There has also been much activity at the Home of Hope orphanage where David was cared for. The road to the village of Mchinji have been graded, new flowers planted and the children have received new uniforms. Three local police officers have been posted at the orphanage.

Madonna, 48, and her filmmaker husband Guy Ritchie were granted an interim court order Oct. 12 allowing them to take initial custody of then 14-month-old David. The singer has two other children, Lourdes, 9, and Rocco, 6.