Paloma Lengema Leads BIC East Africa Through Growth, Innovation and Community Impact
They say actions speak louder than words. For Paloma Lengema, general manager of BIC East Africa, the company’s (…)
Rwanda is fast-tracking its ambition to build a fully digital economy with the introduction of eKash, a locally developed payment system designed to connect all financial services under one platform and make cashless transactions more accessible for citizens and businesses alike.
Developed and managed by RSwitch, Rwanda’s national electronic payment gateway, eKash brings together banks, SACCOs, mobile money operators, and fintech companies into a single digital ecosystem. The system allows users to send, receive, and make payments instantly, regardless of which bank or mobile service provider they use.
The platform, which completes transactions in less than 15 seconds, is part of the government’s broader push to strengthen digital payments, reduce reliance on cash, and promote financial inclusion. It will be officially launched on Dec. 5, 2025, at the Kigali Convention Centre, following a phased rollout and testing period.
A recent report from the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) highlighted the nation’s growing adoption of mobile payments. During the first half of 2025, Rwandans made 557 million mobile transactions, a 42% increase compared with the same period in 2024. The total value of those transactions surged 58%, reaching 13.7 trillion Rwandan francs, underscoring the country’s rapid embrace of digital finance.
More than a payment system, eKash serves as a financial connector, enabling seamless transfers between banks and mobile money accounts. For small and medium-sized enterprises, it simplifies payment processing, reduces accounting errors, and offers a unified channel for receiving funds. For everyday users, it ensures fast, secure payments for essential services such as school fees, utilities, and telecommunications.
The system supports both person-to-person (P2P) and person-to-business (P2B) transactions, allowing users to pay merchants, service providers, and institutions directly from any account. By linking previously separate systems, eKash eliminates the need for cash handling and multiple payment apps.
Rwanda’s digital transformation aligns with the country’s Vision 2050 and Smart Rwanda Master Plan, which aim to build an innovation-driven economy where cash use becomes rare.
With eKash, Rwanda positions itself at the forefront of Africa’s digital finance revolution, marking a major step toward a more inclusive, efficient, and technology-powered financial future.
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