Kenyan DPP elected president of Prosecutors' Association

By Betty Amamukirori & Barbra Kabahumuza

The Kenyan Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kariako Tobiko, has been elected as the new president of the East African Association of Prosecutors (EAAP).

This was revealed Friday by Justice Mike Chibita who is the DPP of Uganda and also the host of the association’s fourth annual general meeting that started on November 5 and is ending on November 7, 2015, at Hotel Africana.

Tobiko is replacing the Court of Appeal judge, Richard Buteera who has been holding the mantle as the association’s president since its inception in 2010, as the second president.

 The newly elected Executive Committee Vice President of the East African Association of Prosecutors (EAAP) Richard Muhumuza who is also the Prosecutor General of Rwanda during the 4th Annual General meeting of the EAAP held at Hotel Africana on November 6, 2015. Photo by Tony Rujuta.

Tobiko will be leading a 10-member committee comprising of executive members and country executive leaders.

Both committees’ new leaders were announced by Chibita through a press release that was given to journalists during a briefing at Hotel Africana.

In the new executive committee, Richard Muhumuza, the DPP Rwanda, comes in as the new vice president taking over from Martin Ngoga who was Rwanda’s DPP before him.

The East African Association of Prosecutors (EAAP) elected Executive Committee (left –right); Prosecutor General of Rwanda, Richard Muhumuza, as the Vice President; Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of Tanzania, Biswalo Mganga as the Secretary; DPP of Uganda, Mike Chibita as the Treasurer and DPP of Kenya, Keriako Tobiko as the President during the 4th Annual General meeting of the EAAP held at Hotel Africana on November 6, 2015. Photo by Tony Rujuta.

Biswalo Mganga, the DPP Tanzania, takes over as the General Secretary, replacing Elieza Mbuki Feleshi also former DPP Tanzania.

Others on the committee are Justice Chibita, the new treasurer, and Burundi’s Valentin Bagorikunda was elected as the new General Counsel of the association, in absence.

Those elected as the new country executive leaders include, Betty Khisa a state attorney from Uganda, Ayub Mwenda from Tanzania, Patrick Gumo from Kenya, Claudine Dushimimana from Rwanda and Loboire Nkurunziza from Burundi.

The leaders are expected to hold their respective offices for five years as per the association’s constitution.

While unveiling the new members, Chibita said that in the three days meeting, they approved the associations five year strategic plan for the years 2016 to 2021.

He said that there is need for cooperation among the East African Countries if cross border crimes are to be defeated. Adding that most of these criminals have cartels across the East African region and this can only be broken by all countries forming a counter association.

“The terror case sets precedence as a lead example of why we need to cooperate as East African Community, cause there are Ugandans, Kenyans and Tanzanians in the case” Chibita noted.

Giving a glimpse into the strategic plans, Chibita said that they resolved to revive the association’s activities which include promotion and facilitation of cooperation among member states, detect, investigate and prosecute crimes in the region and give legal assistance to member prosecuting authorities.

Others are, to exchange suspects and convicted prisoners, ensure faster extraditions and conduct joint training for officials of member countries.

Except Burundi, delegates to the meeting were from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. They were led by their DPPs. Uganda had Chibita, Kenya had Tobiko and Tanzania had Mganga as their leader.