Assessment of records management practices at Soroti Municipal Council

Abstract

The study assessed Records Management Practices at Soroti Municipal Council. The study covered background of the study, background of the organization, statement of the problem, study objectives, research questions, scope of the study, significance of the study and definition of key operational terms. The literature was reviewed basing on the objectives of the study and the research questions. The literature was therefore reviewed on; types of records, storage equipment used for records storage, records management practices, benefits of proper records management, challenges associated with records management, and solutions to the challenges that are associated with records management. The methodology part of the study covered the research design where the researcher used both qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection and analysis, areas of the study that is SMC, population of the study that is the staff members of SMC, and the users of the records, sample size where the researcher sampled 20 respondents out of the total population of the staff members of SMC, the researcher distributed 19 questionnaires but only 14 were retrieved and conducted (1) interview due to the time constraints and hence 15 respondents, sampling technique where the researcher used purposive sampling. Data collection methods and instruments where the researcher used questionnaires and interview guide to collect the data: the study concentrated more on the primary source of data. The major findings of the study reveals that the records at SMC are stored both manually and electronically. This leads to quick decision making, provides evidence of organizational transactions, leads to quick access and retrieval of records hence saving staff and users time, and promotes good corporate and institutional memory. It was further indicted that there were insufficient space for records management. It was therefore recommended that management of SMC should enlarge the central registry so as to accommodate all records and for proper records management and more professionally trained records officers should be employed.