FACULTY OF LAW

A: Background & Introduction

The faculty of law at the University of Iringa is the first and oldest faculty to be established in the history of Private Universities in the United Republic of Tanzania. The faculty is made up of one departments with three Units which include The Unit of Public Law, The Unit of Private Law, and The Unit of Legal Aid and Education. Since its establishment the faculty mission has been to create graduates who portray outstanding legal education and equip them with requisite research knowledge and skills.

B: Rationale

The Faculty of Law exists to meet the increasing demand for transformative legal education and scholarship that responds to the evolving needs of society. By cultivating a deep understanding of justice, governance, and legal systems, the faculty contributes to sustainable socio-economic development. It prepares legal professionals capable of addressing societal challenges, promoting the rule of law, and enhancing equitable access to justice, both locally and globally. Through research and service, the faculty fosters innovative solutions to legal issues, driving positive societal change in line with the university’s commitment to transformative scholarship.

C: Vision

To be a leading Faculty of Law that drives transformative legal scholarship and innovation, producing graduates who are not only legal experts but also catalysts for social change, economic justice, and sustainable development. Our faculty aspires to be recognized globally for its impact on legal education, research, and service that contributes to social equity and the rule of law.

D: Mission

To provide world-class legal education and training that equips students with the skills and knowledge to influence sustainable socio-economic development. The faculty is committed to advancing transformative legal scholarship through research that addresses contemporary legal challenges and fosters social justice. We aim to contribute to society by delivering exceptional service through community engagement, legal clinics, and policy advocacy, while nurturing ethical, innovative legal professionals.

E: Institutional Objectives

  1. To deliver a comprehensive and high-quality legal education that combines theory and practical experience, producing graduates who can contribute to socio-economic progress.
  2. To engage in cutting-edge legal research that addresses critical issues in justice, governance, and human rights, promoting sustainable development and social transformation.
  3. To foster a culture of community service and legal advocacy through partnerships, outreach programs, and legal clinics that enhance access to justice for marginalized communities.
  4. To promote interdisciplinary approaches that connect law with other fields such as economics, political science, and environmental studies, driving innovative solutions for socio-economic challenges.
  5. To cultivate leadership, critical thinking, and ethical practice in students, preparing them to be agents of change in both national and global legal landscapes.

F: Services

Major Activities and Approach:

The FoL uses a learning-by-doing approach, where participants engage in practical training alongside theoretical education to ensure they graduate as skilled legal professionals while positively impacting the surrounding communities.

  • Experiential Learning: Students participate in legal clinics, moot courts, internships, and the Legal Aid and Education Unit, gaining hands-on experience in real legal cases. They provide legal services to the community, particularly in areas like land rights, family law and human rights.
  • Community Legal Education and Public Service: The faculty conducts legal awareness campaigns and free legal aid clinics in surrounding communities. These initiatives focus on empowering locals with knowledge on issues like land ownership, gender-based violence, and employment rights.
  • Blended Learning: The curriculum combines case-based learning, problem-solving workshops, and simulated court hearings, to bridge the gap between legal theory and practice. Guest lectures by practicing lawyers and judges enhance students’ real-world understanding.
  • Research and Policy Development: Faculty and students undertake research on local legal issues and advocate for policy reforms. This includes topics like land use women’s rights, and environmental protection, positioning the university as a hub for legal innovation.
  • Mentorship and Career Development: The FoL offers professional mentorship, career workshops and networking events to ensure students are well-prepared for legal careers. Alumni and local professionals guide students on career paths.
  • Community Partnerships: The faculty partners with local NGOs, courts and government offices to extend legal services and provide students with real-world legal experience. Village legal counsel programs enable students to offer ongoing legal support to rural communities.

G: Programs

The Faculty of Law at the University of Iringa offers a diverse range of programs, from Certificate and Diploma in Law to LLB and specialized master’s degrees in ICT Laws and International Criminal Justice and Human Rights, designed to equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Through its learning-by-doing approach, students engage in legal clinics, moot courts, internships, and community outreach via the Legal Aid and Education Unit, gaining real-world experience. Committed to becoming one of the top law faculties in the country and internationally, the faculty emphasizes cutting-edge research, policy advocacy, and practical training, ensuring its graduates excel in addressing both local and global legal challenges.

H: Statistics

I: Events

The Legal Aid Centre and Faculty of law are well-known for consolidating impactful actions that fetch together all law students, non-low students, residents and leaders in the community like ward chairpersons and other personnel from their offices to participate and learn about human rights and other aspects of law governing their day to day lives. These events include:

  1.  University of Iringa Law Day: This is an annual event that take place in every early dates of February. It has become a key podia for the community at large to learn from it and some to bring about their concerns for answers.
  2. Faculty of law Public Lecture and community outreach: The faculty organize outreach program, workshop and public lectures to raise awareness of legal rights and responsibilities, empowering citizens to navigate the legal system effectively.
  3. Faculty of Law Prayer Concert. This concert takes place in every end of a semester, students they gather according to their religious believes to thank God and ask for their future needs. As a faculty of law event, we often invite religious leaders for directions.
  4. Faculty of Law Sports Bonanza and Inter-university moot Courts. Faculty of Law has been conducting different sport bonanza that involve law students for the purpose of bringing them all together and discovering their talents and nourish them. Moreover the faculty has been steering different moot courts by inviting other universities to compete on different law subjects. This has led to discovering of extraordinary ability to deliver from our law students.
  5. Faculty of Law Orphanages Centre visit. The faculty of law together with the Law students association have been contributing and visiting different 
  6. Faculty of Law Prom night. The Faculty of law has permitted law students in their organization (UoI Law Society) to conduct this event which happen annually for the purpose of congratulating all last year students. This event has made an icon in the University of Iringa because it is done only by the Faculty of law students to their beloved ones (last year students).

J: Program

Faculty of law has been involved in plentiful program that have brought substantial benefits to the University and to the community at large:

  1. Gender Desk Program. This program aimed to solve different gender conflicts brought by students, staffs and citizens.  The faculty runs this program together with experts from the physiology facility in the University of Iringa.

K: News and Updates

  • Promoting about the establishment of a law Hub at the University of Iringa.
  • Promoting about the establishment of the University of Iringa Law Journal

M: Gallery

N: Awards

Faculty of Law has been recognized for its excellence:

  • First runner of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL), National Moot-court competition

Awarded by the International Committee of the Red Cross

O: Our Partners

CEI has built strong partnerships with several national and international organizations that support entrepreneurship development:
• USAID: Funded several projects, including the ICT for Agriculture program and Innovation Promotion for Hortipreneurs.
• COSTECH (Commission for Science and Technology): Partnered on various entrepreneurship initiatives, including the Promoting Youth Start-Ups program.
• NUFFIC/EU: Provided funding for the Harmonization of Business Education project.
• French Embassy in Dar: Supported the Innoversity Project, which resulted in the creation of new businesses in the region.
• Government of Finland: Funded the TANZICT Project, which focused on entrepreneurship training and business development.
• HDIF (Human Development Innovation Fund): Funded by DFID to support youth entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Ministry of Trade and Industry & SIDO: Supported linkages between startups and industrial sectors to boost market access and business growth.

Q: Success Stories

Faculty of Law has helped several successful in the University of Iringa and across Tanzania. Here are a few notable success stories:

  1. The 2024 Integrity Forum. The faculty of law in the University of Iringa has played a major role on the preparations and fulfilment of the international event that has scheduled by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Iringa (Professor   Edward G. Hose).
  2. Training Seminar on “the role of Domestic Courts in delivering International Criminal Justice”. The seminar was conducted by the faculty of law of the University of Iringa and sponsored by the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunal (UNIRMCT) on June, 2021.
  3. Community outreach. An idea brought by the Legal Aid Facility in the University of Iringa that focuses on giving legal education by spreading awareness on human rights aspect has been mentored by the Faculty of law up to date.
  4. Gender Desk. The community at large has now solving their gender conflicts in a peaceful way before a gender desk established in the University of Iringa which works closely with the Faculty of Law.