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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The judiciary has launched an Electronic Court Case Management Information System-ECCMIS.
The system once rolled out at the beginning of the new Law Year, 2022, is expected to reduce contact between the litigating public and court staff, a move that is expected to curb corruption. Currently, the Judiciary is using the Court Case Administration System which has been criticized for being prone to corruption and delaying justice.
It will provide a portal where one log ins and registers his or her case file. It will also have security safeguards that allow someone access to only information that they are entitled to, and also deter anyone from corrupting the data.
Speaking at the launch of the system, Chief Justice Alfonse Owinyi-Dollo explained that the ECCMIS portal will provide the ability for parties to receive notifications about any process or action on any case in court through messages on mobile phones and email.
“The abilities point to a mobile court now in your hands accessible via your mobile device. One can e-file from anywhere and at any time of the day, unlike the current system that is limited to 8am to 5pm working hours”, said Owiny-Dollo.
The Chief Justice adds that to enable access to justice and bring it closer to the people, the judiciary will set up ECCMIS digital kiosks to assist the litigants who are unable to electronically file cases.
According to Owiny-Dollo, they will also train lawyers next month and some of the judiciary staff to get accustomed to the system.
The chairperson of the ECCMIS Steering Committee, Justice Fredrick Egonda Ntende noted that the implementation will be done in a phased approach to avoid a stampede that may result in inefficient use of the system.
According to Justice Egonda, the system will be piloted in some courts across Kampala that includes the Law Development Centre Magistrates Court, Mengo, Nakawa, Makindye and Buganda Road, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
It will then be extended to Jinja High Court, Kakira Magistrates Court, Bugembe Magistrates Court, and Chief Magistrates Court in Jinja.
Justice Egonda says besides curbing down on corruption, the ECCMIS will bring services closer to people in a transparent manner and address challenges like case blogs among others.
The Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija said the new system will not only improve the delivery of services in the judiciary, but increase the country’s revenue.
In 2019, the Judiciary signed a five-year contract worth 9.2 billion shillings with Synergy International Systems to set up the Electronic Court Case Management Information System and the digitalization of court proceedings.
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