Like the vast majority of Rwandans I know, money is always on my mind: the lack of it, the need for it, and the ever-increasing cost of not just groceries but everything else. For many of us, financial concerns occupy a significant part of our thoughts, whether it’s trying to make ends meet or figuring out how to improve our quality of life. Since graduating from university nearly two decades ago, I’ve followed what many might consider a typical post-college trajectory. I got a job in media, earned a master’s degree, switched jobs a few times, got married, took a personal loan to buy a small village property, bought a house on mortgage, and had kids. Through all these milestones, the only financial advice I received could be boiled down to two simple directives: a) get better jobs with better salaries, and b) avoid spending money on unnecessary things. This advice, while practical, was ultimately limiting. It kept me afloat financially, but it became increasingly clear that I wasn’t positioning myself to build real wealth. I was surviving, yes, but thriving seemed out of reach. In 2024, something changed. I stumbled upon a key insight that transformed my understanding of money and wealth creation: the power of compound interest. It came to me while watching an American YouTuber who specialized in financial literacy. This simple concept immediately resonated with me. I realized I had spent years working hard to earn and save but had no clear strategy for growing my money. This newfound knowledge might have remained just that—knowledge—if not for a chance conversation with an old university classmate. During our catch-up, he mentioned the Rwanda National Investment Trust (RNIT), a government-managed institution that offers annual returns of 11.5% to contributors. He explained that RNIT provides an interest rate unmatched by any local bank, allows withdrawals free of charge (regardless of the amount), and imposes no capital gains tax. The only minor downside? Withdrawals took four business days to process. This all seemed too good to be true so I decided to invite the RNIT CEO, Jonathan Gatera, to my podcast for an interview. Everything my classmate had shared was accurate. That interview was a turning point. I didn’t just leave with more knowledge—I took immediate action. I opened RNIT accounts for myself, my spouse, and even my young children. Every month, I deposit small, manageable amounts into these accounts. My goal is simple: let compound interest work its magic. Later that year, I had a chance encounter Pierre Celestin Rwabukumba, CEO of the Rwanda Stock Exchange, in a hotel foyer and I seized the opportunity to ask for an appointment to learn more about the stock exchange. He graciously agreed, and during our meeting, I discovered three important things: a) how easy it is to trade on the exchange, b) how accessible government bonds (offering returns of over 13% annually) were for normal baturage —and c) how readily available qualified financial advisors were to guide people like me. These revelations left me both inspired and slightly frustrated. Why hadn’t I known about these opportunities earlier? Why isn’t this knowledge more widespread? Someone might argue that such information is “common knowledge.” To them, I’d say: it’s common knowledge to YOU. The older generation, shaped by their experiences of refugee camps, displacement, insecurity, and poverty, taught us the skills they relied on to survive: frugality, resourcefulness, and belt-tightening. These lessons, while invaluable in their time, don’t fully address the financial challenges and opportunities of modern Rwanda. Today, we aspire to do more than just survive—we want to thrive. But thriving requires a different mindset and a new set of skills, particularly around money. The question is: who will teach us how to thrive? Who will demystify the language of money and guide us beyond the traditional strategies of saving and land speculation? Who will show us how to invest wisely and build wealth sustainably? There’s an urgent need for financial education at scale, tailored to the realities and aspirations of Rwandans. Institutions like RNIT and the Rwanda Stock Exchange have the knowledge and tools to transform lives, but their reach is limited without effective public engagement. Financial literacy isn’t just an individual skill—it’s a national asset. To those who already understand the “language of money,” I make this appeal: share your knowledge. If done right, this collective effort can unlock Rwanda’s potential and help us achieve our national aspirations of prosperity and economic independence. The writer is a socio-political commentator
