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Given that repositories were proposed as one of the routes to open access (OA), this study sought to establish the achievements universities in East Africa had attained in initiating institutional repositories (IRs), the challenges in providing OA and strategies for the way forward.

Data were collected through literature searches, using the internet, journal databases and university websites in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for information about OA and IRs in East Africa. Some of the findings were based on the author’s PhD “The management and accessibility of OA IRs in selected universities in East Africa”, which used face-to-face interviews with six librarians and self-administered questionnaires responded to by 183 researchers at Kenyatta University, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences and Makerere University.

Universities in East Africa were still in the intermediate stages of embracing OA, and only 40 libraries out of 145 universities had implemented IRs. However, most of the repositories had less than 1,000 items, with this challenge attributed to the absence of institutional and government/funder mandates that affected the collection/provision of OA, in addition to the lack of awareness of IRs among researchers.

The value in this research was establishing the extent of IR initiatives in universities in East Africa and their contribution to OA, which is regarded as more visible and accessible to scholars and government personnel who could leverage the information for further development in the region.

This paper is part of the study that was conducted to analyse the LIS postgraduate e‐resources seeking behaviour in Makerere University, Uganda. Its purpose is to present and discuss specifically the problems LIS postgraduate students face in accessing e‐resources.

Survey research techniques were used in which the data collected using structured questionnaires were carefully handled and analysed using the Excel computer program to generate the frequencies, percentages and pie charts.

The respondents have positive attitudes towards e‐resources utilization and they indicated varied problems faced in e‐resources utilization and proposed different strategies to improve on e‐resources in the University. Among the problems identified are: slow Internet connectivity, inadequate networked computers, lack of access to low cost printers in the library, using advanced search strategies of most databases and lack of awareness of most of the e‐resources.

Without knowing exactly what is wrong with a system, it becomes very difficult to plan and execute meaningful strategic measures to mitigate the problems. This study will help library planners and LIS educators to rethink on how to improve on e‐resources access and utilization. It will provoke new thinking to revamp the situation in the University library.

The realization of the significant roles played by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in economic development and the crucial values attached to efficient and effective records and information management in decision making, and the fact that little seems to be done to improve on the management of records and information among the SMES in Uganda, necessitated this study. The study therefore aims to investigate the management of records and information among the SMEs in Tororo district in Uganda.

The paper adopts a quantitative approach in which a structured questionnaire was used as the main data collection method and supplemented with a telephone interview. Snowball sampling strategy was applied in identifying the respondents. A total of 61 SMEs could be identified. Off this 61, 42 (69 percent) participated in the study. Data were analysed using the Excel program.

The findings indicate that the SMEs have many issues and challenges related to records and information management. The paper concludes that a concerted effort should be made and proposes that SMEs managers be trained on key skills for records and information management.

The Government of Uganda, in a bid to improve on the SMEs sector, have mainly focused on provision of advice on business practices and counseling for entrepreneurs who seek to access credit and new markets ignoring the crucial component of records and information management. This study thus closes this gap and makes key recommendations regarding improvement of records and information management among SMEs.

This article is a result of part of a doctoral study in the University of South Africa on the topic business information systems (BIS) design for Uganda's economic development: the case of small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in northern Uganda conducted between 2004 and 2007. The study was conducted to establish the characteristics of the SMEs, business activities, business information needs and recommend the important business information needs required for BIS for poor country or region. It was carried out on the assumption that businesses in northern Uganda are lagging behind because of lack of a BIS that could facilitate efficient and effective business information access. This article aims to discuss this subject.

The descriptive survey research design was used to collect the required data using structured questionnaires and semi‐structured interview guide. A sample size of 251 SMEs, 75 information providers and 25 business policy makers in northern Uganda were used. Quantitative data obtained were analysed using Epi Info and SPSS while the qualitative data by use of content analysis technique.

The findings reveal that SMEs in northern Uganda have varying background and are engaged in diverse/varied business activities with varying business information needs that require a multifaceted approach in the provision of business information. The study recommends that a BIS unique to the SMEs in northern Uganda be designed to provide among others business legal information, business technical information, business economic information, business contacts information and business management skills information.

No research has been carried out on the business information activities and needs of SMEs in northern Uganda with a view to design BIS. The findings of the study will help to shape the planning and implementation of strategic interventions to transform northern Uganda using information as a catalyst for development.

With the dwindling state funding to support higher education, Universities have been forced to initiate many private programmes to not only generate income for the Universities but also to respond to the high demand for higher qualifications and skills demanded for globally. This in turn has put on pressure on University departments to initiate new programmes, budget for them and manage the resources accruing from these programmes. The central question is how these academic programmes are budgeted for and the budgeting strategy adopted by Library and Information Science (LIS) schools. The purpose of this article is to examine the budgeting strategies applicable in LIS and recommends appropriate strategies to be adopted for budgeting for LIS programmes. It also recommends financial management issues that LIS school educators/managers should consider.

This paper is based on analysis of relevant literature and experience of the authors in designing several courses at Makerere University.

The paper makes a review of budgeting strategies applicable to LIS institutions and makes recommendations for the key areas that should be considered by LIS schools in budgeting for new academic programmes. It concludes by making emphasis on financial management and proper budgeting as an important tool in surviving the closure in the global re‐organisation in higher education.

Some LIS schools have closed especially in South Africa. The issue is financial sustainability. This article addresses this central issue that need to be carefully considered by LIS schools to ensure that LIS programmes are budgeted for properly.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the subject cataloguing of local publications and subject access to local publications.

A qualitative approach was used. Methods included interviews, document reviews and observations.

Adherence to cataloguing standards takes precedence over subject access. Rarely is a user the focus of choice of the subject term in the process of cataloguing. The terms assigned to local publications are generally too broad and, at times, border on inappropriateness. The situation is exacerbated by a lack of documented cataloguing policies and a waning interest in cataloguing matters from the profession.

This study is intended to benefit the librarians who provide subject representation to local publications by way of streamlining the process of subject cataloguing, hence, enhancing access to these uniquely held resources. The outcome of this study, hence, will provide insight in the process of cataloguing local publications. In addition, the findings of this study will benefit the teaching of subject cataloguing in library and information science programs. The findings from this study are expected to contribute to the body of library science by enabling a localized view to subject assignation. Ultimately, the significance of the study lies in its contribution to cataloguing education and research, especially with a perspective from Africa.

This paper aims to examine the influence of records management practices on staff performance among administrative staff in private universities in Uganda.

Using surveys, this study took a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical design. Out of a population of 177, the study targeted a sample size of 123 respondents. Using proportionate random sampling, data were obtained from 104 usable questionnaires. The researchers applied Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) to test all the four hypotheses. The results are presented in terms of hierarchical regression analysis models.

Records creation, records maintenance and records disposal are significant predictors of administrative staff performance in chartered private universities in Uganda.

This study is relevant to heads of private universities, as it will guide them to set up and implement records management policies and practices, which are relevant for improving staff performance at work. They will be able to closely adhere to efforts that imply appropriate management of records to promote decision-making, cost reduction and information processing. Private university owners could appraise university management based on whether they can successfully execute records management-related policies and procedures for staff performance.

This study demonstrates that the application of proper records management practices translates into increased administrative staff performance in terms of efficiency and effectiveness within the workplace.

This study aims to examine the connection between the integrity of records and the effectiveness of anti-corruption investigations. The objective is to determine how the quality of records affects the efficiency of anti-corruption investigations.

This study uses a qualitative, exploratory case study approach, with data collected through interviews with 15 anti-corruption investigators in 2020 in Nigeria. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

The results indicate that the efficiency of anti-corruption investigations depends on the quality of the evidence. Proper recordkeeping, which maintains the integrity of records, is crucial for efficient anti-corruption investigations. Inadequate recordkeeping practices that do not adhere to the lifecycle concept are often driven by corruption and can significantly hinder the efficiency of anti-corruption investigations by causing delays in obtaining crucial evidence.

From a records management perspective, this study highlights the impact of unreliable evidence on every corruption investigation effort and the motives behind rendering the process unproductive. Accountability forums must enforce adherence to proper recordkeeping procedures to ensure the desired investigative outcomes with minimal resources, time and effort to combat corruption.

The purpose of this study is to explore how the trustworthiness of digital records generated in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system known as the government accounting and budgeting system (GABS) is maintained to support the audit process in the public sector of Botswana.

This qualitative study used modern archival diplomatics as a theoretical framework to examine the procedures for authenticating digital accounting records in GABS to support the audit process in Botswana. Data were collected through interviews and documentary reviews.

The study established that although GABS is not a record-keeping system, it generates digital records. In the absence of procedures, auditors rely on social and technical indicators (system application controls) to authenticate records.

The findings of the study are limited to the case study and cannot be generalised to other organisations.

The findings of the study can inform the necessary measures that can be taken to ensure that digital records generated in ERPs are maintained authentic to support financial auditing processes. In addition, the paper also presents differing approaches by records managers, auditors and information technology specialists to evaluate the authenticity of records in digital systems, thus contributing to the literature about professional allies and competitors to archivists and records managers.

This paper provides empirical evidence from an original study.

This paper aims to underline the factors impacting the usage of academic journal articles by PhD students in Indian universities.

Following a detailed literature review, the paper bases itself on a grounded theory and provides insights drawn from structured interviews conducted via email with 134 PhD students who were based in public and private universities in India.

The paper underlines that there are five factors (institutional; task complexity; relevance and application; information quality; and technical) that are responsible for impacting the usage of academic journal articles by PhD students in their scholarly work. Such factors are linked with resource constraints faced by universities, lack of motivation on the part of teachers and students, non-availability of an electronic library, etc.

The present study is a major contribution to the extant literature on the usage of academic journal articles for pursuing scholarly activities.