An electronic record certificate service has been added to a long list of online government facilities.
Together with Rwanda Online, the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), a local technology firm running e-government facilities, introduced the service on Monday.
Rwandans requiring a criminal record certificate had to go through a lengthy and rigorous manual and internet application process until last Friday, despite the presence of internet facilities on Irembo, and yet spend cash.
For example, one had to fill out a criminal record application form online, pay Rwf 1200 using mobile payment, wait for three days to go and collect a criminal record on a piece of paper from prosecution offices.
NPPA statistics indicate at least 67,000 citizens apply annually for the certificate, or 5,584 individuals per month or 253 individuals per day.
Jean Bosco Mutangana, Attorney General of the NPPA said this amount is large to manage and sometimes the people have been unnecessarily postponed owing to the manual implementation system yet Rwanda is striving to be an ‘ ICT Hub.
“The e-certificate service will start as soon as now. It will take us two to three weeks to fully shift from the manual to this digital service but it has been long awaited and it will reduce the number of people queuing for the service,” said Jean Bosco Mutangana, the NPPA Prosecutor General.
As normal, a candidate must go through the Irembo platform and follow processes. A brief message will be sent to his mobile or e-mail to whom it may be concerned.
“The goal is to have zero paper and zero trip for citizens. The process of application will require one to apply online for now, but we are also considering inclusive services which will take care of citizens with USSD phones,” said Faith Keza the CEO of RwandaOnline.
Keza observed that there will be no change in the Rwf1200 charged by government to obtain this certificate. However, it will be vital to use 4000 irembo agents across the country to ensure that people without internet abilities are assisted in applying in Kigali and rural regions at a fee of Rwf500 and Rwf150 respectively.
The e-Criminal record certificate service joins a list of comparable Irembo platform paperless facilities.
Other internet facilities include, among others, a birth application, a marriage certificate, Community- based health insurance (Mutuelle de Sante).
The e-service comes with favorable sides with more than 1,800 public employees blacklisted as of June 2018.
According to NPPA, nobody applying for it will be excluded from the service, whether or not their criminal record is contaminated.
They will be needed to apply for the certificate through their corresponding embassies for Rwandans residing outside of Rwanda.
