President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially opened the new Tanzania Judiciary headquarters in Dodoma on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The impressive nine-storey facility, built in the shape of a star, is now the central hub for the country’s judiciary system.
Project fact sheet
- Project: Tanzania Judiciary headquarters
- Location: Dodoma
- Total cost: Tsh129.7 billion
- Opened: April 5, 2025
- Floors: 9
- Features: Courtrooms, helicopter pad, admin block, breastfeeding area, juvenile facilities, religious and legal support rooms
This new building houses the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and for the first time, a designated space for the future Supreme Court, which is yet to be included in the Constitution. The star design reflects the three main branches of the judiciary, each point of the star representing one. A central block links them together and includes modern ICT infrastructure and a helicopter landing area.
The cost for the new Tanzania Judiciary headquarters in Dodoma
The Judiciary’s Chief Executive Officer, Professor Elisante Ole Gabriel, confirmed that the building cost Sh129.7 billion, with Sh19.7 billion covering VAT. He noted that the project was fully funded by domestic resources. The idea was first proposed in 2012, with initial plans set for Dar es Salaam. However, after the government relocated to Dodoma in 2017, the project was also moved.
In addition to the main headquarters, President Samia opened the Judiciary Service Commission building, built at a cost of Sh14.3 billion, and launched 48 new judges’ houses valued at Sh42.3 billion. The government also set aside Sh562 million to support the relocation of judiciary staff.
The headquarters includes several specialised facilities, such as rooms for lawyers, psychologists, religious leaders, and juvenile detainees, along with breastfeeding rooms and separate areas for men and women.
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Government doubles spending on judiciary infrastructure
Over the past four years, the government has increased its investment in judicial infrastructure. The judiciary’s budget has doubled, rising from Sh160 billion in 2021/22 to Sh321 billion in 2025/26. So far, Sh416.46 billion has been invested in total. Sh67.5 billion has been spent on primary courts and Sh29.7 billion on district courts.
Six integrated court centres have been constructed in major regions, including Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Mwanza, Arusha, and Dodoma, funded by a Sh51.45 billion World Bank loan. A fresh $90 million loan (about Sh203 billion) will now finance the construction of nine more centres in regions such as Ruvuma, Lindi, Singida, and Pemba. Another Sh3.2 billion has been allocated to renovate courts in Tabora and Dodoma, which will function as family courts.
Prof Gabriel also mentioned plans to introduce “flying courts” using helicopters to reach remote areas. Locals, including Helena Mshana from Nkhungu, welcomed the development, praising its role in improving access to justice.
