Rwanda’s Electronic Case Management System Scoops Global Innovation Award

Paul Mugume July 13, 2017

1 minute read

Electronic system which was first launched in January 2016 at the pilot level in Kigali.

Rwanda’s judiciary innovation, the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) is among the top 10 innovations that will be awarded at this year’s Court technology solutions awards, PC Tech Magazine has learnt.

The awards, according to organizers, are given to high-performing courts that engage many tools to operate efficiently and effectively in conducting the business of the judiciary.

“Leveraging innovative technology to facilitate court business and communication is mission critical. Each year ten outstanding courts are honored for improving access to justice through the application of technology,” reads a statement from the awards website.

The IECMS is a system that facilitates digital handling of court cases.

It allows 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.

The system which was officially rolled out in June also allows the user to monitor progress of their filed cases online, without having to go to the court’s registry.

It is integrated with the National Identification Agency, Rwanda Revenue Authority and land center for easy access of individual information.

PC Tech Magazine understands that plans are underway to ensure the IECMS is upgraded to include electronic signature, stamp and finger prints to make it fully paperless.

The recognition of the system is one among the many achievements it has recorded since its inception, on top of reducing case backlog in the small East African state.

After its pilot launch in January 2016, the Electronic system is said to have proven to provide rapid and efficient justice, which enabled courts to address the issue of accumulation of case backlog.

According to information on the awards website, the Awards ceremony is scheduled to be held Thursday July 13, at the National Association for Court Management annual conference in Washington, DC.