The Institute of Judicial Administration (IJA)

The Institute of Judicial Administration

The Institute of Judicial Administration (IJA) was founded by Cap.405 RE 2002, following the acceptance of the recommendations of the Presidential Commission on Judicial System Review of 1977; the Presidential Commission on the Introduction of Multiparty Democracy in Tanzania of 1993; and the Legal Task Force, 1996. All these studies found out there was a need to establish an institution that would design and provide training programmes suitable for judicial officers and court personnel. The Institute started its training activities on 23rd October 2000. Situated on the slopes of the Usambara Mountains on a seventy-acre property in Lushoto Township, the Institute of Judicial Administration is about 400 kilometres from Dar es Salaam. It is also about 30 kilometres from Mombo on the Dar es Salaam – Arusha highway. The Institute is therefore, easily accessible from most major towns of Tanzania. The Institute is located at about 1,500 metres above sea level with annual temperatures ranging between 2°C and 25°C. In addition to its cool temperatures throughout the year, IJA has a serene environment making it an ideal place for learning.

Until 1970, the whole campus was owned by one Mr. Ernest C. Smith through a long term lease with No. L.O 15248. The owner conducted pre-school training activities for young European children. From 1970 Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) bought the property which it later voluntarily handed it over to the Government of Tanzania. After this handover, the Government subsequently established the Rural Training Centre on the campus. In 1974 the Government handed over the campus to the ruling Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) party which used the property as an ideological college.

From 1990 the Judiciary in Tanzania was desirous of establishing an institute for training its personnel. A search was conducted throughout the country for a suitable site for that purpose. It was eventually recommended that the property where CCM Ideological College stood was suitable and fit for such an institute. Following dialogue between the Government and the ruling party, the latter sold the property to the Government which in turn handed it over to the Judiciary to operate a training institute.

The Institute of Judicial Administration obtained legal status on April 16th, 1998, when the National Assembly passed a Bill to establish it. On July 1st, 1998 the President of the United Republic of Tanzania assented to that Bill and it became the Act of Parliament No. 3 of 1998 (new styled as Cap.405 RE 2002). That Act specifies under section 5(1) several functions of that Institute, one of which is to offer and conduct local and international training programmes in legal disciplines.

On August 3rd, 2001 the Institute was inaugurated by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania and since then it has been running Diploma and Certificate in Law Courses for prospective primary court magistrates and court clerks respectively.

Our Mission

The mission of the Institute is to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Judiciary and the other institutions related to the administration of justice by providing training, applied research, and consultancy interventions. More specifically, the Institute aims at: Training in long-term programmes in the specified legal disciplines as well as in the short-term professional judicial development courses; Conducting research and publication of research findings in priority areas of law and administration of justice according to the Institute’s research agenda; and Offering consultancy services including diagnostic and other interventions to the Government, public organizations and departments, executive agencies, private sector and non-governmental organizations.

Our Vision

The Institute envisions becoming a reputable national and regional institution providing training, research, consultancy and continuing education in legal disciplines, administration of justice and related matters; and to provide professional development programmes for judges and magistrates and become a leading regional centre of excellence in judicial administration.

Our Objectives

Offer and conduct quality national, regional and international training programmes in legal disciplines; Determine and offer various academic awards at the end of training programme; Conduct legal research in priority areas determined by the Council and the Institute’s Administration; Apply research findings for the betterment of academic literature and for continued enrichment of the curriculum and teaching; Provide consultancy services in judicial administration and other legal matters to the Government, public and private organizations, individuals and other clients within and outside the country; Serve as the national institution that caters for the resource needs of the Judiciary.