JOKATE MWEGELO
Jokate Mwegelo is a Tanzanian politician and the District Commissioner for Korogwe District in Tanzania. Before being appointed, she was an entrepreneur and a media personality. In July 2018, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli appointed Hon. Jokate Mwegelo as the new District Commissioner for Kisarawe district in Pwani region. She was then appointed as the District Commissioner for Temeke District in Dar es Salaam Region in July 2021. Hon.
Jokate Mwegelo was appointed by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan as the District Commissioner for Korogwe District in Tanga Region in January, 2023 and has been serving in the same position till date. She is a member of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, previously served as Secretary in charge of Public Relations and Mobilization UVCCM – youth wing of Chama Cha Mapinduzi.
She is one among Tanzania’s youngest influential leaders and entrepreneurs. In 2017, Hon. Mwegelo was included in Forbes 30 Under 30 in Africa. In August 2017 she was named by Africa Youth Awards among the 100 Most Influential Young Africans. The 2018 Most Influential Young Tanzanians by Avance Media place her as the third most influential young Tanzanian and the most influential young Tanzanian under the category of Law and Governance .
Mwegelo was born on 20 March 1987, in Washington, D.C., where her parents worked. She was raised in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She started primary school at Olympio Primary School, where she served as a prefect .
She attended St. Anthony Secondary School from January 2000, where she received her ordinary secondary education, graduating in 2003 with a Certificate of Secondary Education. She served as Assistant Head Girl from 2002 to 2003. In 2002, during the Model United Nations General Assembly in Tanzania she was appointed to serve as the Secretary General.
In march 2004, she joined Loyola High School in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania to pursue her Advanced Secondary Education, graduating in February 2006 with an Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education. Mwegelo served as a prefect responsible for coordinating all club activities at the school from 2004 to 2005. She was selected as the head prefect for the school from 2005 to 2006. In April 2005, at the inter commonwealth essay competition organized by the Commonwealth of Nations she was awarded 2nd position for best essay. Nationally, she ranked 2nd among female candidates in the English language examination.
Mwegelo attended at the University of Dar Es Salaam from 2007 to 2010 where she graduated Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Political Science B.P.S. and Philosophy with a G.P.A of 4.0. Mwegelo was the founder and coordinator of the University of Dar Es Salaam United Nations Association Chapter in 2008. With other students and partners, Mwegelo organized various initiatives including the Stand Up Campaign towards the MDGs in 2009, commemoration of the International Day of Peace with United Nations Information Centres in 2009 and the Mwalimu Nyerere Intellectual Festival (Kigoda cha Mwalimu) at the University of Dar Es Salaam in 2010. Mwegelo also served as the President of the Tanzania International Student Week in 2009.
Mwegelo is a member of Chama Cha Mapinduzi the dominant and ruling party in Tanzania. She was appointed as the Acting Secretary of Public Relations and Mobilization in the youth wing of the ruling party UVCCM. She was among the 450 members of the party that contested to be elected to represent Tanzania as a member in the East African Legislative Assembly.
From a young age Mwegelo has shown leadership trait, starting as a prefect in primary school. She went on to serve as Assistant Head Girl at St. Anthony Secondary School from 2002 to 2003, during the time she was also appointed as the Secretary General for Model United Nations General Assembly in Tanzania in 2002. In high school at Loyola High School from 2004 to 2006 she served as a prefect in charge of coordinating club activities at the school from 2004 to 2005. In 2005 she was elected as Head Prefect until 2006 when she graduated high school. Mwegelo leadership career excelled during her time in university where she was engaged in various activities including being vice-president of marketing and public relations for the International Students Week in Tanzania from 2007 to 2008 and in 2009 she became the President of the International Students Week in Tanzania. Mwegelo was the project creative coordinator of United Nations Association initiative together with UNIFEM on 16 days against violence on women and girls in 2009. She was appointed as the local ambassador for the Live Global Run water initiative in 2010. In 2011, she was appointed as Ambassador for the Walk for Water initiative that benefitted 100,000 villagers in Bagamoyo, 2011.