Nadia Uwamahoro is the founder of Data Systems Limited, a software company that creates mobile applications, including web applications, with branches in Uganda and Ghana.

Her other company, Gira ICT, is an educational platform that facilitates the distribution of academic resources such as loans, grants and teaching videos for teachers, students and parents. Her love for innovation, education and time efficiency compelled her to study computer engineering.

She spoke to Women Today’s Sharon Kantengwa about her career path and how she is creating an impact in society through ICT.

Tell us about yourself

I am Rwandan, but I grew up in Burundi. We came back to Rwanda in 1992. I am a 28-year-old software engineer. I studied computer engineering at University of Rwanda’s College of Science and Technology (former Kigali Institute of Science and technology - KIST), and did different trainings in America and Dubai. I am a member of kLab and Girls in ICT and I am passionate about education and soft ware development.

Why did you choose computer engineering?

My father was an engineer who did mathematics and finance and since childhood, he inspired me to become like him. At a certain time, I wanted to become an architect, but the reason I chose computer engineering instead was because there is innovation. With it, you can change the world and provide solutions to the challenges we meet in our daily lives.

I also chose computer engineering because I was passionate about entrepreneurship, but I noticed people spend a lot of money and time doing things that a simple application can do. I believed that by becoming a software engineer or by working in the field of ICT, I would change a lot of things because I love efficiency, time saving and I hate unnecessary spending.

What are your achievements so far?

When I started the first company Data Systems in 2010 as a student, we were using other people’s solutions, but now we have developed our own software that we installed last year. We did health management system which is running perfectly and we have a client who is testing it, we also have something else, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution.

We started by providing software for petrol stations, restaurants, hospitals and other people who needed an inventory management system. Having our own software is a big success story for us because it is believed that good software can take 10 years to be developed, but in our case, we started some of them in 2010 and by 2014 we had them ready.

We had some previous versions but the version we have is final because it will take five years without touching the software. 

Gira ICT also developed software that is a learning management system. The government of Rwanda spends more than 40 million dollars per year buying books and printing which is not efficient for students. This platform is time and cost effective as it helps teachers and students exchange documents easily.

With Gira ICT I have managed to train teachers to teach with technology, and we also succeeded in providing many laptops to the education sector, including computer labs. The computer labs we supplied increased by 13 per cent in the intake of computers in Kigali.

Also having my former school, Camp Kigali Primary school, install a computer lab to me is a dream realised because I believe that the children in lower classes will be able to do much more if they are taught at an early stage.

Having started this company as a student, how did you raise capital?

The good thing about ICT is that your job can be your investment. When I got the idea of software, the first step was to provide the same software to a family restaurant, a hotel owned by a friend who wanted an inventory management system and petrol station.

Developing your product should be the most important thing and money should only be a measuring tool to use. With a computer only, you can produce something which is worth millions, and that’s what happened to me.

What are you planning next?

The four software systems that I have are an impact to society and I believe that they will be needed. I just need to go to the market and see how the market loves them. I have tested them and all I need to do is make sales.

What is your philosophy in life?

For me there is only one place and no one comes second. People will only know the best. I love something that impacts the community and changes people’s lives. That is why I am more into solutions because I believe that where there is a problem, there is a solution. I love doing things that satisfy the people that I serve.

What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?

Being self reliant in business is hard but it is also good and manageable. Entrepreneurship has a direct impact in empowering someone. The first thing I love about my job is that I can balance my social work and my job. I manage my schedule and my calendar, I meet interesting people every day and I am independent. Entrepreneurship takes passion, strength and discipline to succeed.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw