Kagera backs ‘Justice for Inclusive Growth’ programme
KAGERA: KAGERA Region residents have warmly welcomed a special programme dubbed ‘Justice for Inclusive’, which has been launched by the Judiciary in collaboration with the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs aiming at promoting justice and country’s development.
The programme has been launched to ensure collection of views from stakeholders.
Addressing a stakeholders meeting in Bukoba Municipality on Friday, Senior Community Development Officer from the Judiciary headquarters in Dodoma, Ms Natma Athumani, explained that the ‘Justice for Inclusive Growth’ programme comprised five components: Availability of legal services, mediation in court and out of court, friendly infrastructure development, integration of information, communication and technology (ICT) and capacity building on skills development.
Currently, the programme is being piloted in Kagera and Kilimanjaro regions, with a primary focus on friendly infrastructure development. Other components will be rolled out in due course, she explained.
Deputy Registrar of the Bukoba High Court, Mr Said Mkasiwa, emphasised that the input collected from stakeholders is vital for enhancing judicial services nationwide.
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (SACI), Petro Malima, Kagera Regional Immigration Officer, stressed the need for an integrated legal system linking the Judiciary, Police Force, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Immigration Department.
“Due to Kagera’s proximity to neighbouring countries, we frequently deal with illegal immigrants entering without following proper procedures. Some are deported, but others have been caught re-entering,” SACI Malima explained. “By integrating these systems, habitual offenders can be easily identified and prosecuted.”
Kagera has several border entry points including Murusagamba, Kabanga and Rusumo in Ngara District; Murongo and Kaisho in Karagwe District; Mutukula, Kanyigo, Kashenye and Kyaka in Missenyi District; and Bugabo and Rubafu in Bukoba District.
Bukoba Resident Magistrate, Mr Andrew Kabuka, recommended establishing dispute mediation centres at the ward level to enable grassroots conflict resolution.
However, he cautioned that mediators must be properly registered and governed by clear rules, given the sensitive nature of their work in handling confidential information.
Sheikh Abdul Shaid of the Answar Sunna Community urged that religious leaders be empowered to handle matrimonial disputes, while land issues should be managed by Ward Land Tribunals.
He also called on the media to play a proactive role in educating the public on inheritance and land ownership rights.
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Ms Jonia Elieza advocated for improved infrastructure to support people living with disabilities.
According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, Kagera Region has a population of 2.9 million people spread across eight councils: Muleba, Bukoba DC, Biharamulo, Ngara, Karagwe, Kyerwa, Missenyi and Bukoba Municipal. The region is further divided into 192 wards, 662 villages and 3,665 hamlets.
