East African School of Library and Information Sciences (EASLIS) Collection
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ItemDesigning a digital repository of oral history for the Ndere Cultural Centre(Makerere University, 2026)The Ndere Cultural Center is a custodian of Uganda’s rich intangible heritage, housing extensive collections of traditional songs, dances, oral histories, and unique musical instruments from diverse ethnic groups. However, these cultural assets face threats from physical deterioration and restricted global accessibility. This project aimed to create a digital repository for the Center to help preserve and make its oral history archives easier to find. The objectives included identifying and categorizing the Center’s oral history collections; assessing existing preservation practices; note challenges in current archival systems; set requirements for a digital repository; and design a solution for secure, accessible, and sustainable storage and retrieval of audio-visual materials. The study used a mixed methods approach collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from 71 individuals including performers, administrators, curators. Data was collected through questionnaires, interviews, observations an document analysis. Quantitative data was analyzed with SPSS, while qualitative data was examined using thematic analysis. The results showed that storing materials mainly on CDs and DVDs makes them hard to access and more likely to be lost. Most respondents supported creating an online platform to improve access. In response, the research team built a digital repository using Greenstone Digital Library software, which includes keyword and advanced search, filters, user authentication, and metadata tagging. The study found that a digital repository will help protect historical archives, support education, and encourage more people to connect with their heritage. The team recommends regular updates to the repository, ongoing staff training, and partnerships with government, academic, and cultural organizations to secure technical, financial, and professional support.
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ItemA records storage and retrieval system for the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Registry Unity(Makerere University, 2024)The aim of this project was to design a records storage and retrieval system to manage records for the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the registry unit so as to enable easy access and retrieval of records for improved service delivery. The objectives of the study were: to examine how records materials are stored and retrieved at the ministry of internal affairs, to examine the challenges facing the storage and retrieval system of Ministry of Internal Affairs in the registry unit, to design a storage and retrieval system for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and to identify retrieval tools used in the registry unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The study used a case study research design while adopting a qualitative research approach in data collection. Interviews, observation and document review methods of data collection were used. The study found out that majority of the registry users were workers who access the documents such as policies, plans and many others. The current retrieval system manual and highly depends on paper based documents. Users visit the ministry, use the internet and retrieve documents. The study found out the different challenges in the current retrieval system at the ministry in the registry unit were; slow retrieval of records, poor data storage, lack of security for the users records, misplacement of documents, tiresomeness and time consuming. The requirements for the records storage and retrieval system were: a user friendly interface, a facility that provides online help to the user, able to give authority to the registry staff to manage its operation, allow to allow data searching and display of search results, downloading of full text documents and display search history. The study concluded that implementation of the designed records storage and retrieval system for the ministry of Internal Affairs in the registry unit would improve the storage and retrieval of records for the staff at the ministry. The study recommended that the ministry should digitize all the documents in the ministry, provision of more ICTs in the registry unit, training of both the registry users and other staff, provision of full time power supply, engaging users in decision making, increasing the budget for the library and proper maintenance of ICTs in the ministry.
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ItemA digital Library for Islamic Call University College(Makerere University, 2025)The project aimed to design, develop, and implement a digital library system tailored to Islamic Call University College’s (ICUC) unique academic and cultural needs. The objectives focused on examining existing library resource access methods, identifying challenges, determining requirements, and creating a functional digital library system to enhance resource accessibility and preservation. Results indicated that ICUC predominantly relied on print-based resources with limited digital access, causing significant delays and inefficiencies. Key challenges included constrained physical holdings, restricted operating hours, poor digital infrastructure, inadequate user training, and staff resistance to technological adoption. Respondents emphasized the necessity for a scalable, secure, and user-friendly digital platform fully integrated with existing institutional workflows. The design phase prioritized modular system architecture, employing visual modeling tools like entityrelationship diagrams to optimize functionality and usability. Pilot testing validated the system’s reliability, ease of use, and effective resource retrieval, supported by high access success rates and user satisfaction. Ultimately, we developed digital library system that effectively addresses critical access constraints at ICUC, offering a sustainable and inclusive solution aligned with academic standards. It significantly improves equitable access to information that can support academic excellence, preserves unique cultural heritage, and sets a precedent for similar institutions in resourceconstrained environments. With the system developed, we recommend that ICCU adopts the system. For effective use of the system, we further recommend continuous user training, infrastructure enhancement, multilingual and mobile-compatible interfaces, rigorous data privacy compliance (including GDPR adherence), and ongoing monitoring through analytics and user feedback channels.
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ItemA data driven approach to patient attendant information access for Nakasero Hospital(Makerere University, 2026-02-19)This research, conducted by a Bachelor of Library and Information Science students at Makerere University, developed a data-driven web-based system to address critical inefficiencies in patient attendant information access at Nakasero Hospital, a prominent private healthcare facility in Kampala, Uganda. Patient attendants, essential to effective caregiving, encountered significant barriers, including fragmented communication, navigational challenges within the hospital, language barriers due to English-only documentation, and restricted access to appointment schedules, medication updates, and billing information. These obstacles contributed to missed appointments, medication non-adherence, billing disputes, and diminished satisfaction among attendants and hospital staff. The study sought to enhance information accessibility, improve patient outcomes, and optimize hospital operations in a linguistically diverse urban context characterized by limited internet connectivity and varying digital literacy levels. The specific objectives were to design a user-centered platform featuring online appointment booking, medication tracking, billing transparency, digital navigation maps, instant alerts, secure data storage, and multilingual support in English and Luganda to cater to Kampala’s diverse population. A mixed-methods research approach, integrating qualitative methods (content analysis, case studies, interviews) and quantitative methods (secondary data analysis, longitudinal surveys), was employed to inform system development, though specific data collection details are pending. The system was developed using Agile methodology and open-source technologies, including React.js, Django, PostgreSQL, and Redis, to create a scalable, offline-capable Progressive Web App compliant with Uganda’s Data Protection and Privacy Act. Findings revealed enhanced appointment adherence, reduced medication errors, fewer billing disputes, improved navigation efficiency, and high user satisfaction, addressing stakeholder needs in a resource-constrained setting. The system improved attendant satisfaction, patient safety, and operational efficiency, offering a scalable model for other urban healthcare facilities in Uganda. Academically, the study advanced library and information science by applying principles of information accessibility and user-centered design.
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ItemDeveloping a digital storage and retrieval system for medical records at Galilee Community General Hospital in Masanafu, Kampala(Makerere University, 2023)Background: The healthcare industry relies heavily on accurate and accessible medical records, which play a pivotal role in patient care, decision-making, and overall hospital operations. Galilee Community Hospital currently employs a manual system for storing and retrieving medical records which has led to limited storage space due to the accumulation of records making retrieval hard. Objectives: The objectives of the study were: to identify the types of medical records stored at the hospital, to establish how medical records are stored and retrieved at the hospital, to find out the challenges faced while storing and retrieving medical records, to propose solutions to the problems faced in storing and retrieving the medical records, to develop a digital system for storing and retrieving medical records at the hospital. Methodology: The study used qualitative research approach. Data was gathered from a purposively selected sample of six respondents, comprising key personnel from the hospital's Records Management staff, including the Records Manager, Assistant Records Manager, Data Clerks, and Records Management Interns. The study employed the following data collection tools: interview guides, observation guides, focus group discussion guides, and document review guides. The data collection methods included interview method, document review, observation method and focus group method. Findings: The study revealed that the types of records stored at the hospital include; referral notes, discharge cards, medical certificates. These records are currently stored using a manual system with the use of storage equipment like shelves, filing cabinets, cupboards and drawers. It was also revealed that the challenges faced while storing and retrieving these records include; limited storage space, inadequate storage equipment, misplacement of records, limited finding aids, misfiling, data inaccuracy and incompleteness. The solutions to these included; digitization, offsite storage, designing a digital storage and retrieval system, training staff frequently, creating access controls. Conclusion: In conclusion, the hospital has various medical records which accumulate from the daily medical activities. The manual storage and retrieval system used is inefficient hence making storage and retrieval difficult. Therefore, designing and adopting a digital storage and retrieval system would help in improving these processes. Recommendation: The hospital management should carryout regular training workshops for the Records Management staff and the creation of finding aids to facilitate easy retrieval are essential steps to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of medical record management at the hospital. Off-site storage is also key to create space for more records. Finally, the hospital should adopt a digital storage and retrieval system to improve the storage and retrieval processes.