Profiles : We build software from scratch – Nadia Uwamahoro

Nadia Uwamahoro is the Managing Director of Data Systems Limited, a software development company in Kigali. Uwamahoro co-founded Data System Limited in 2009At 24 years, Uwamahoro employs five permanent staff and occasionally recruits university students across East Africa to work at her company. Uwamahoro is a student of Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and she will graduate this year with a Bachelor Degree in Computer Engineering. Besides her Bachelors Degree, she offered other computer courses like CISCO and Mobile applications. “I used to get assignments from several institutions to do data entry and it was from this experience that the idea to start a company was born. As a student there are different ways to get pocket money, that is why we work with students in most cases,” she said. “Our objective is to form a big team of young entrepreneurs in the Information Technology field. We aim at developing software that is important for our region,” she explains. The software they have developed works with management systems, accountancy and walk floor system to save time at work places. “We develop software from scratch. We don’t buy software from abroad and then sell it to our clients. In most cases we meet with the customers and they tell us the kind of software they want based on their preferences,” Uwamahoro explains. The software is used at Hotels and restaurants, Petrol stations, Pharmacies, Hospital and for Mobile applications. “The Hospital Management System software we designed and developed was an inspiration from the one installed at King Faisal hospital. The software provides the finest automation and data systems,” Uwamahoro said. With this software, the moment one’s name is entered in the system, a patient’s medical history is available for doctors and laboratory operators. “The walk floor systems software is suitable for business with branches. With this kind of software one doesn’t need to be in office, they can access their data wherever they are. It’s called accessing with remote. The Distance doesn’t matter,” she says. The software developed by Data System Limited is programmed and can be accessed on the internet in what is called Web application. “Since Information technology develops day by day, we always upgrade our software and do maintenances. Our mission is to develop simple software which is efficient for different business sectors at a low cost,” Uwamahoro explains. Besides the news line broadcast website Imvano.com, Uwamahoro and her team created a website known as Rwanda recruit.com. “It’s a job look-out website where a job seeker can post their Resume or employers, job adverts. Anyone can register and companies have the chance of recruiting experts from different fields,” Uwamahoro explains. As a young entrepreneur, Uwamahoro says her vision is to make, “quality and efficient software for all sectors in Rwanda and sell them at an affordable price.” Dorau20@yahoo.co.uk