Rwanda today officially launched eKash, the flagship platform of the Rwanda National Digital Payment System (RNDPS), marking a transformative milestone in the country’s journey toward a cashless economy.
The launch event, themed ‘Powering Rwanda’s Cashless Future’ was held at the Kigali Convention Center.
The initiative is supported by strategic partnerships for financial transformation. Key partners include the AfricaNenda Foundation, Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), Access to Finance Rwanda, Mojaloop Foundation, Gates Foundation and GIZ.
Developed by RSwitch in collaboration with AfricaNenda Foundation and powered by Mojaloop Foundation, eKash is designed to revolutionize how Rwandans send, receive and manage money. It enables full interoperability across banks, SACCOs, microfinance institutions and mobile money operators (MTN and Airtel), allowing users to send and receive money instantly, regardless of their service provider. This innovation positions Rwanda as a regional leader in digital financial infrastructure.
Jean Bosco Iyacu, CEO, Acess to Finance Rwanda stated; “For us, eKash is not simply a technological achievement; it is a foundational pillar or Building Block of Rwanda’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) ecosystem. By expanding inclusive digital payment solutions and supporting digital public infrastructure initiatives that serve every Rwandan and different productive sectors of our economy.”
Currently, eKash connects 22 financial institutions, including SACCOs, MFIs, FinTechs, banks, and mobile money operators (MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money). Over 30 SACCOs are in the process of integration.
Dr. Robert Ochola, CEO, AfricaNenda Foundation emphasized: “For the first time, a national payments solution has been built end-to-end using 100% African engineers, developers, and system integrators. Rwanda is a proof-of-concept nation: what we build here, we build with Rwandan talent – and what we learn here, we share with the rest of Africa.”
On his part, Blaise Pascal GASABIRA, CEO of RSwitch, stated that “Today marks more than a product launch. It is the moment Rwanda’s financial ecosystem becomes truly interconnected. We are stepping into a new chapter of Rwanda’s digital journey, one where every transaction builds trust, every connection creates opportunity and every Rwandan is part of the country’s economic story. Let us adopt it. Let us champion it. Let us build on it together.”
Since its inception, eKash has processed more than 46.4 million transactions with a success rate of 99.89%.
Daily transaction limits are capped at 10 million RWF, with individual transactions up to 2 million RWF.
Hon. Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT & Innovation noted that “The story of eKash is the story of Rwanda. We started with a bold vision, we worked together quietly and relentlessly. Through the efforts of RSwitch team, we built systems that are going to outlast projects and we will always design for the most vulnerable first. The most important part of this story is not technology, it’s the people.”
Key Features of eKash
- Instant Transactions: Transfers clear within 10 seconds, with beneficiary confirmation for peace of mind.
- Affordable: Lower infrastructure costs make cross-institution transfers more affordable for customers.
- Inclusive Access: Links banks, SACCOs, MFIs, FinTechs, and mobile money operators into one unified ecosystem.
- Central Intermediation: eKash sits at the center, enabling seamless communication and transaction exchange between institutions.
- Secure & Transparent: Built on the open-source framework and regulated by BNR, ensuring safe, compliant, and transparent transactions.
