The Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court has completed the reorganisation and arrangement of its archives and exhibits rooms in a move aimed at strengthening records management and improving access to court files.
The exercise, finalised on Monday, is part of ongoing efforts to streamline the storage, organisation, and retrieval of court records in order to enhance efficiency in court operations.
According to the Chief Magistrate, Allan Gakyaro, the process began earlier this year as part of deliberate efforts by the Court to improve records management within the registry. The initiative received financial support from the Registrar Magistrates Affairs, Agnes Alum, and the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Judiciary, Dr. Pius Bigirimana, which facilitated the reorganisation process.
As part of the improvements, the Court has introduced an index catalogue system to enable registry staff to organise files more systematically and allow for quicker retrieval of records when required.
“The exercise was undertaken as part of our deliberate efforts to strengthen records management within the registry and improve access to court files,” said Chief Magistrate Allan Gakyaro.
Despite the progress made, the Court continues to face several challenges affecting the management of records and exhibits. Part of the archives room has a leaking roof, which poses a risk to the preservation of important court records. The Court also faces limited storage space for exhibits.
To further strengthen records management, the Court plans to introduce file cards for each file to help track the movement and status of both new and old files within the registry.
The Chief Magistrate also emphasised the need to adopt ICT-based systems to support records management, noting that digital solutions would significantly improve the storage, tracking, and retrieval of court records.
The reorganisation initiative is expected to enhance accountability, efficiency, and proper records management at the Court, contributing to improved service delivery within the Judiciary.
