Assesment of records management at Uganda Prison Service Headquarter

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to assess record management at Uganda prison service headquarters. In carrying out this study, four (4) research objectives which included to assess the records management practices at Uganda prisons service registry, to identify the benefits derived from proper records management registry, to assess challenges associated with records management in Uganda Prison Service registry, to suggest solutions to improve records management at Uganda Prison Service registry. A sample size of eight respondents was selected using purposive sampling technique involving one senior record officer, two record assistant, three secretaries, one principal officer II and one Human resource. It was qualitative in nature and data was collected using the interview and observation method. Data was analyzed and presented qualitatively. And the validity and reliability were used to improve on the quality of data presented The major findings of the study were that, record management practices included classification, filing, sorting, storage and preservation and was characterized by challenges like dust and dirt, poor handling, inadequate back and file loss thus leading to the delays in service delivery with some solutions to the challenges as suggested by respondents like allocating resources to records management, training staff, automation recruiting specific records officer, developing records policies and others. Basing on the study findings study was concluded that, the record management were in inefficient and the recommendation to automate, filing records, training staff, allocation of resource, and prioritizing an independent records management system, developing policies like records policy, disaster management plan and recruiting a professional records officer to manage.