JUDICIARY OF TANZANIA: EAST AFRICAN MAGISTRATES' AND JUDGES' ASSOCIATION GETS NEW LEADERS

From FAUSTINE KAPAMA-Judiciary, Arusha

The East African Magistrates' and Judges' Association (EAMJA) today dated December 5, 2024 held its Annual General Meeting to discuss various judicial issues involving national judiciaries within the region and electing new leaders.

Delegates of the meeting started arriving at the venue at around 8.30 am. Few minutes later, the EAMJA President John Keitirima called the meeting and invited all members to take their seats.

The meeting started by members in attendance to sing the East African Community Anthem before one member was invited to lead others into prayers and sought the God's guidance in their deliberations.

Thereafter, the President took through the members on the agenda, which were discussed during the meeting, reading and confirmation of the previous AGM meeting minutes held in Uganda.

The meeting also received summarized reports from national members' associations such as Kenya Magistrates and Judges Association, Magistrates and Judges Association of Tanzania and others from Uganda, Zanzibar, Rwanda and the East African Community, among others.

Furthermore, the AGM also receives the Treasurer' report and that of Publicity Secretary before members entering to another session of General Elections.

During the elections, Rwanda’s High Court Judge Geraldine Umugwaneza was elected the new President of the EAMJA. Others elected were Judge of the High Court of Tanzania, Hon. Lilian Itemba (Deputy President) and Judge of the High Court of Kenya, Hon. Kizito Magare (Secretary General).

The rest were High Court Judge of Rwanda Rurangwa Meshack (Deputy Secretary General), Judge of the High Court of Uganda, Hon. Doroth Semgala (Treasurer), Kenya’s High Court Judge, Hon. Charles Onzieki (Deputy Treasurer), Resident Magistrate from Tanzania, Hon. Mutandzi Matovelo (Publicity Secretary) and Hon. Jonard Tusasirwe from Uganda Judiciary (Deputy Public Secretary).

Elected Council Members are Hon. Dr. Angelo Rumisha from Judiciary of Tanzania, Hon. Kadhi Mukhtar Billow from Judiciary of Kenya, Hon. Ingabire Sophia from Judiciary of Rwanda, Hon. Patience Koburunga from Judiciary of Uganda and Hon. Yohana Masara from the East African Court of Justice.

The rest were Hon. Ilvin Mugeta from the Judiciary of Tanzania, Hon John Keitirima from the Judiciary of Uganda, Hon. Stephen Radido from Judiciary of Kenya, Hon. John Kahyoza from Judiciary of Tanzania, Hon. Harrison Mutabazi from Judiciary of Rwanda and Hon. Olive Kazaarwe from Judiciary of Uganda.

Speaking after being elected, the new President thanked the members of EAMJA for trusting her team and promised that they will keep the ball rolling from where the last leadership left for the development of the association.

The new leadership will do the best and ensure all members move together and take the association move far and accomplish its mandates it was established for in accordance with the EAMJA constitution.

At the end of the AGM proceedings, the new President announced that the next East African Magistrates' and Judges' Association (EAMJA) Conference and Annual General Meeting will be held in Kenya on a date to be announced later.

The President of the East African Magistrates' and Judges' Association, Rwanda’s High Court Judge Geraldine Umugwaneza. Below is her Deputy, Judge of the High Court of Tanzania, Hon. Lilian Itemba.

The former President, Hon. John Keitirima from Unganda hands over the Association's Constitution to the new President, Rwanda’s High Court Judge Geraldine Umugwaneza.

The new leadership of the Association led by Lady Justice Geraldine Umugwaneza (centre). Below is the outgoing leadership led by President John Keitirima (centre).