The judiciary in Rwanda has rolled out an Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) that will allow digital handling of court cases.
The system, according to officials, will allow complainants to file cases to the Supreme Court, the High Court and its chambers, the Commercial High Court and other commercial courts, to the intermediate courts and primary courts, online.
It also allows the user to monitor progress of their filed cases online, without having to go to the court’s registry.
The number of court cases decided by a judge has been steadily rising in Rwanda, placing a heavy load on the justice system and making it harder for Rwandans to get timely justice.
As of 2016, reports say, it could take up to three years to get a first hearing, especially in the Supreme Court.[related-posts]
The Electronic system which was first launched in January 2016 at the pilot level in Kigali, is said to have proven to provide rapid and efficient justice, which enabled courts to address the issue of accumulation of case backlog.
“The system contributes immensely to changing the whole justice system to a more effective one, and reduces corruption risks as accusers do not stand a chance to meet judges in person,” Emmanuel Itamwa Mahame, the spokesperson for the Judiciary reportedly said.
Itamwa added that exhibits are now recorded and preserved online, which is a big boost to the delivery of justice in the country.
“Everyone involved in a case can follow it up using the platform which is available at https://iecms.gov.rw/en/ and explanation on how to go about it can be found on YouTube.”
The system also consists of an institutional integration and coordination framework among different stakeholders involved in judicial dispensation.
