Tanzanian Prisons pledge to fully implement the legal aid agreement

DODOMA: THE Tanzania Prisons Service has pledged to fully implement an agreement between the Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs to strengthen the provision of legal aid services to prisoners and remand inmates across the country.

Commissioner General of Prisons (CGP) Jeremiah Yoram Katungu gave the assurance today, October 27, 2026, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two ministries, alongside the launch of guidelines for establishing and operating legal aid desks in prisons.

Katungu said the Prisons Service was committed to ensuring that inmates benefited from improved access to legal assistance, enabling them to understand their rights, follow the progress of their cases and access appropriate legal remedies.

He said the service had already taken steps to establish and strengthen legal aid desks at its headquarters, regional offices and prisons, with designated officers expected to provide assistance in accordance with the law, regulations and professional ethics.

Katungu said the implementation of the agreement would strengthen efforts to ensure prisoners and remand inmates received legal services and had their rights protected throughout legal proceedings.

He also highlighted the contribution of digital technology to improving access to justice, noting that virtual court proceedings had helped reduce delays, lower the costs of transporting inmates to court and minimise security risks associated with their movement.

The commissioner called on justice sector institutions to continue strengthening the use of virtual courts to improve the efficiency of court proceedings and ensure cases were heard promptly.

He said the legal aid agreement and the newly launched guidelines would provide a framework for better coordination between the institutions involved in delivering legal services in prisons.

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Katungu reaffirmed the Prisons Service’s readiness to work with the two ministries to ensure the agreement translated into practical benefits for prisoners and remand inmates, particularly by improving access to legal assistance and strengthening the administration of justice.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to promote the rule of law, protect human rights and ensure that people in custody can access justice in accordance with the country’s laws and procedures.