Managing financial and administrative records for enhanced service delivery: a case study of selected Sub-counties in Hoima District, Uganda

Abstract

The issue of poor financial and administrative records management systems in the sub-counties of Uganda, despite the initiatives to improve upon them, has been of great concern to the Ministry of Local Government. This has given rise to a critical question: Could the failings be systemic and corporate because the managers seem to be unaware of the scale and nature of the problems? The study set out to analyse financial and administrative records management systems of sub counties in Hoima district and assess their contribution to enhanced service delivery in the sub-counties. Nine sub-counties were used for the study and the questionnaire and observation methods were used for data collection. Nine respondents from each sub-county and ten from the district were issued with the questionnaire. The respondents were both users and managers of the records management system. The findings show that financial and administrative records are available at sub-counties, respondents know well the role of records management in service delivery and how they can be used to harmonise other factors to cause them to influence service provision. However the existing system is faced with a challenge of lack of standardised structures which have compromised its effectiveness and efficiency. The study therefore recommends closer managerial supervision by Ministry of Local Government and other Stakeholder to strengthen service delivery in Hoima district.