Upendo Ngitiri: Championing Justice and Innovation in Tanzania

When Upendo Ngitiri began her journey as a magistrate in Tanzania, she never imagined she would one day help shape the way the judiciary addresses intellectual property (IP) issues. Today, as Deputy Registrar of the High Court of Tanzania and Focal Point for the Judiciary’s collaboration with WIPO, she has become a key driver of efforts to strengthen judicial understanding of IP, ensuring that judges and magistrates are better equipped to uphold the rights of creators and innovators.

Upendo Ngitiri speaks at a podium with a microphone, holding a presentation remote. — Upendo Ngitiri delivers a presentation during the WIPO Advanced Training Workshop (Photo: Judiciary of Tanzania)

A Calling to Serve Justice

Born and raised in Arusha, Upendo grew up with a deep sense of fairness.

“Growing up, I witnessed few people seeking justice and striving to defend their rights,” she says. “These experiences fueled my ambition to be part of the solution to uphold justice and fairness in society.”

Driven by this passion, she pursued a law degree and discovered the transformative power of the legal system. In 2012, she achieved a long-held goal by joining the Judiciary of Tanzania as a Resident Magistrate.

“My academic journey reinforced my belief in the power of the law to transform lives and restore hope,” she reflects. “In both my judicial role and my current administrative role as Deputy Registrar of the High Court, I am constantly reminded of the immense responsibility we carry to interpret and apply the law with integrity, uphold the principles of justice, and contribute to a fair and equitable society.”

12 participants stand and sit smiling in front of an Intellectual Property (IP) Workshop for Justices of Appeal backdrop. — Participants at the Intellectual Property (IP) Workshop for Justices of Appeal (Photo: Judiciary of Tanzania).

A Problem Worth Solving

Early in her judicial career, Upendo began noticing a rise in IP-related cases involving copyrights, trademarks and patents. She observed that many legal professionals lacked the training to navigate them. In her view, judges often found IP law difficult to interpret and, as a result, creators didn’t always receive the protection they deserved.

“In highly technical fields like IP, understanding the subject matter is crucial. In such cases, lack of expertise may lead to unfair decisions and miscarriages of justice,” she explains.

Seeking Solutions

Determined to change this, in 2018, Upendo was selected to attend a training course on IP for senior judicial officials from least-developed countries organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV). The experience proved pivotal, deepening her understanding of IP and inspiring her to bring this expertise home.

She came back fueled by her new insights and commitment to her vision: to build judicial capacity in IP law across Tanzania to unlock the country’s creative and economic potential.

Creating Change with WIPO

The Judiciary of Tanzania embraced Upendo’s initiative, building a solid partnership with WIPO to advance judicial IP capacity.

In 2021, the Judiciary of Tanzania signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WIPO to advance IP capacity-building for judges and magistrates. Thanks to this shared commitment and WIPO’s support, significant change has taken place. Judges and magistrates have attended specialized IP training workshops and arbitration and mediation courses. Tanzania has participated in WIPO’s Judges Forum and judicial colloquiums. Hundreds of legal professionals now have access to WIPO’s online training and resources, including WIPO Lex, a global database of IP laws, treaties and judgments and IP training materials have been developed.

Judicial understanding of IP has improved dramatically, leading to more informed and consistent rulings in landmark IP cases, ultimately strengthening Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem.

A group photo of 22 participants, standing and seated in front of a banner reading “Judicial Colloquium on Copyright, Trademarks, and Case Management”. — Judges and senior officials attend the Judicial Colloquium on Copyright, Trademarks, and Case Management, co-organized by WIPO and the Judiciary of Tanzania (Photo: Judiciary of Tanzania).

Looking Ahead

Upendo’s vision reaches beyond today’s achievements. She envisions a future where IP education becomes a standard part of judicial training in Tanzania, ensuring that every judge and magistrate is equipped to fairly and confidently handle IP cases.

Upendo’s journey shows how collaboration, passion and purpose, combined with the right support, can drive meaningful change. Through her work with WIPO and the Judiciary of Tanzania, she is helping to inspire a new generation of judicial leaders committed to protecting IP and championing innovation.

Background

The WIPO Judicial Institute collaborates with judges and courts worldwide to enhance their understanding of IP law. Through training programs, strategic partnerships, resources and forums for judicial exchange, WIPO supports legal systems as they adapt to the evolving demands of innovation and creativity.