Starting January 2025, Rwanda’s justice sector and its stakeholders will begin using an upgraded Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS) aimed at improving access to justice. Stella Umurungi, the Chief Digital Officer in the Ministry of Justice, presented the enhanced system to the General Assembly of the Rwanda Bar Association on December 19. ALSO READ: Use of electronic system will enhance efficiency in justice sector Umurungi said the system’s new architecture had potential to enhance performance and improve justice delivery. “The IECMS has been operational since 2016, serving users in the country and abroad. Now, the Ministry of Justice and its stakeholders have embarked on upgrading the system to keep pace with evolving technology and legal requirements,” Umurungi explained. Why the upgrade? Umurungi outlined several reasons for the upgrade, including advancements in technology that necessitate modernization and changes in Rwandan laws as well as the addition of more institutions such as the National Identification Agency (NIDA) and Rwanda Forensic Institute to the system. “Integration was essential due to the entry of new institutions needing access to justice-related data. These changes and many others justified the system’s upgrade,” she said. What is new? According to Umurungi, the upgraded IECMS introduces various features designed to streamline justice processes. Among those there are virtual and e-courtrooms where the new system replicates physical courtrooms, eliminating the need for external platforms like Skype. Legal practitioners will be able to sign documents digitally within the system, reducing the time and resources spent on manual processes. ALSO READ: Five things to know about new electronic court system For citizens without access to digital signatures, the Ministry of Justice plans to introduce devices enabling fingerprint authentication. “We are exploring partnerships to distribute these devices widely,” Umurungi added. She added that another new feature allowed online complaint filing and access to investigation and prosecution complaints where the citizens or lawyers will be able to file complaints electronically to the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB). Furthermore, there will be automation of the criminal submission process, which was previously handled manually. These forms will now be processed entirely within the system, ensuring efficiency and accuracy. Another feature is harmonized electronic indictments. Umurungi explained that this feature standardizes the indictment process, allowing prosecutors to easily compile cases by selecting crimes or elements from predefined lists. ALSO READ: 10 key things about the new instructions on virtual court hearings The official said the new system now includes dedicated modules for military investigations, prosecutions, courts, and prisons. Umurungi pointed out that the upgraded system was in its final stages of development and would be launched in January 2025. “This upgrade is the culmination of nearly 18 months of hard work. We’re excited to launch and experience the benefits of this technology,” Umurungi said. Training and adoption Moise Nkundabarashi, President of the Rwanda Bar Association, commended the system’s advancements. He noted that approximately 600 lawyers have already been trained on the new features. “When the IECMS was launched in 2016, many of us were apprehensive. Now, after seven years, the technology is indispensable to our work. The Bar Association is committed to ensuring that all lawyers are equipped with digital signatures and receive practical training before the system goes live,” Nkundabarashi said.
