The Rector of the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD), Dr. Aimé  Muyoboke Karimunda, has visited the justice institutions in The Gambia as part of efforts to enhance collaboration in the legal field. The visit highlighted the ongoing cooperation between the two countries.

The visit took place on November 19 and 20, 2025, during which Dr. Muyoboke toured various justice-related institutions in The Gambia, including the country’s school of law.

In 2024, The Gambia revised its law regulating the legal profession, adding provisions that specify which countries’ law degrees are recognized for practicing law in Gambia. According to the new law, no one can practice law in Gambia without presenting a valid degree from a recognized country.

In Africa, recognized countries include Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. In Europe, countries like Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom, which colonized Gambia, are recognized. In the Americas, only Canada is accepted, while in Asia, countries like India, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Australia are recognized.

Dr. Muyoboke explained that the relationship between the two institutions has sparked the beginning of discussions on how justice institutions in both countries can collaborate.

During the visit, the President of the Gambian Bar Association, Neneh Cham, spoke with the President of the Rwanda Bar Association, Moise Nkundabarashi, exploring avenues of collaboration between Rwandan lawyers and their Gambian counterparts.

This collaboration is expected to facilitate Gambian students who graduate from ILPD and other future initiatives.

Dr. Muyoboke further mentioned that both The Gambia’s Supreme Court and Rwanda’s Supreme Court have set up dedicated teams to assess how the justice institutions can work together effectively.

In September of this year, the President of the Supreme Court of Rwanda, Mukantaganzwa Domitille, also visited The Gambia’s justice institutions, marking the start of in-depth discussions on collaboration.

This followed the visits of The Gambia’s Supreme Court President, Hassan B. Jallow, and the Head of the Gambian Law School, Rougie Thomasi, to Rwanda.

Dr. Muyoboke expressed hope that these discussions would yield positive results in the future.

He said, “This visit will strengthen cooperation in judicial education, research, and the development of the legal profession. There is a strong desire to promote legal professionalism and collaboration in our continent, and this will be possible through our partnership.”

The President of the Supreme Court of The Gambia, Hassan B. Jallow, also stated that Dr. Muyoboke’s visit was very valuable, as it continues to build the good relationship between The Gambia and Rwanda, particularly in the field of justice.

He added, “For me, Rwanda is like a second home. I lived and worked there. The partnership we will have benefits us all, and working together as Africans is what is needed on our continent.”

During his visit, Dr. Muyoboke also met with The Gambia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dawda A. Jallow, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Hussein Thomasi, and others, including former ILPD students from The Gambia, who have now founded an association called the ‘ILPD Alumni, Gambia Chapter.’

One Gambian lawyer, B.M. Bajo, who works in Rwanda, said that he is excited about the collaboration between the two countries.

He explained that currently Gambian lawyers practicing in Rwanda face significant professional challenges primarily due to the absence of a reciprocity or mutual-recognition framework between the two countries. Their practical legal experience in Rwanda no matter how extensive or sophisticated does not count toward The Gambia’s mandatory 12-month pupillage required for enrollment as a full barrister and solicitor, delaying their official professional progression at home. At the same time, they cannot join the Rwanda Bar Association because bar admission requires reciprocity, restricting them to non-advocacy roles despite completing ILPD’s DLP program. These combined barriers limit career advancement, delay recognition of experience, restrict participation in litigation or full legal practice, and may discourage Gambian students from choosing Rwanda as a destination for postgraduate legal training.

To date, 50 students from The Gambia have graduated from ILPD, with others still studying.

Some of the graduates have chosen to continue working in Rwanda, where they appreciate the values they learned, such as cleanliness, fighting corruption, and advocating for justice.