Hope Magazine - Issue 81

www.hope-mag.com

NOVEMBER 2017 ISSUE 81

TELLING RWANDA’S STORY

MAGAZINE

The

Yegomoto Revolution VUGA YEGO!

INSIDE ISSUE 81 HOPE MAGAZINE

Highlights ...

With FUSO trucks, reliability is what you get – as you get from AKAGERA MOTORS, part of AKAGERA BUSINESS GROUP, which is the exclusive distributor of FUSO trucks in Rwanda. In the heavy-duty category, there is the FUSO FJ-2528C Tipper 6X4 (FJX3WK2LK8A). It has a tough, durable chassis and suspension that allow heavier loads – the ‘25’ refers to the truck’s gross vehicle mass (GVM), which is 25 tonnes, while its kerb weight is 8 tonnes, meaning it can take 17 tonnes of payload. That is borne by a front axle with a capacity of 6 tonnes and a rear axle (first + second) of 19 tonnes. The 6X4 refers to the wheels, with one single-tire set in front and two dual-tire sets at the rear. The wheelbase measures 4.95 meters, while the trucks overall length is 7.16 meters.

16

AKAGERA BUSINESS GROUP

26 BRALIRWA

CONTENTS

Advertisers MTN Rwanda

6

Access Bank Rwanda

8

7 YEGOMOTO Making best use of ICT for innovation 10 COVER STORY Yegomoto Revolution Vuga Yego!

12 YEGOMOTO Pushes the Drive for Cashless Society

Akagera Business Group

17

Kigali Serena Hotel

18

14 KPA tips media on coverage of Mombasa Port 16 ABG Need a Reliable & Powerful Truck, FUSO is the wayto go

25

BRALIRWA Limited

27

BPR - Atlaas Mara Group

31

Hotpoint Rwanda Limited

32

Ecobank Limited

33

Engen Rwanda Limited

35

Grazia Apartments

36

Tigo Rwanda

42

DEVELOPMENT BANK OF RWANDA

20 MTN and Yegomoto to extend digital inclusion 24 KCB MOBILOAN Frequently Asked Questions

19 22, 23

KCB Bank Rwanda

Nakumatt Supermarket

13 YEGOMOTO rewards exemplary drivers with smartphones and motorcycle

9

Mobisol Limited

UAP Group Rwanda

KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY

3 5, 29

Safintra Limited

Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

14

2

Bourbon Coffee Airtel Rwanda Ni Bomba

COVER The Yegomoto Revolution Vuga Yego!

1, 21

WAKA Fitness Group

37 39, 56

Davis and Shirtliff

40

Riders Lounge

41

Engen Rwanda Limited

50

Vision Fund Rwanda

51

The Arts Real Estate

52

Herocean Enterprises Limited

53

RwandAir

54

Sinotruk Rwanda Limited

55

26 BRALIRWA Solar kits given to Kayonza Families 28 AIRTEL Interview on Bomba Packs 30 BPR Big Digital Transformation ahead for Banking 34 ENGEN Quicklube All your car needs served

28 4

38 TIGO RWANDA and Engen free Fuel Giveaway

AIRTEL RWANDA

42 BRD is blazing the trail in Financing SMEs HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

44 TRANSUNION introduces mobile app to ease access to credit status 46 KICS Interview with Dr. Benjamin Thomas 48 TEDMER RWANDA Making doors in Rwanda for export to EAC and Europe

EDITORIAL HOPE ISSUE 80

Editor's word ...

YEGOMOTO

TEAM

Albert Ndata Allan Migadde Ben Gasore Erwin Winkler Himbana Alexandre Ishimwe Yvonne Iradukunda Anime Keith Ntagozera Manzi Joseph Mbanda Claude Mucyo Rodrigue Rumanzi Abraham Shema Ignace Sindayirwanya Isabelle Rebero Daniel DESIGN & LAYOUT Dani K. PUBLISHED BY

HOPE HOLDINGS LTD ADVERTISING & GENERAL INQUIRIES

P.O. Box 6176 Kigali-Rwanda +250 788 524189 / +250 788 404138

info@hope-mag.com www.hope-mag.com COPYRIGHT 2013

Reserved by Hope Magazine, a monthly Magazine published by

HOPE HOLDINGS LIMITED All rights reserved.

The opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the editors and publishers of Hope Magazine.

Making the best use of ICT for innovation ff IN THIS AGE WHEN TECH COMPANIES COME OUT WITH NEW GADGETS VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY, OR CLAIM TO INTRODUCE THE LATEST LIFE-CHANGING INNOVATION, IT IS EASY TO FORGET THAT REALLY USEFUL INNOVATIONS ACTUALLY RESPOND TO A NEED, OR SOLVE A PROBLEM.

the distance they travel and on that basis calculate the fee for the ride. It may seem simple, but it has profound implications. First of all, it will put an end to the endless haggling over the fee, which is henceforth based on a price per kilometre set by RURA. That will benefit the drivers, who currently, due to excessive competition, have to take the lowest acceptable offer from the passenger. Most of them barely manage to eke out a living.

uch solutions might not be as glitzy as the latest i-Phone, the newest version of Android or yet another fitness app that promises to turn you into an Olympic athlete, but in the end they actually make a real difference because they change the way people do everyday things. Therefore, transformative innovations usually aren’t global, one-size-fitsall solutions, but ideas conceived at a more local level, tailored to local challenges.

What is more, through Yegomoto the drivers can get a statement of their monthly earnings, which will make it easier for them to get bank loans. The system will also help to push adventurers out of the market, as drivers are required to have their administrative paperwork in order to get the Yegomoto metre. In brief, the system will finally bring order and transparency to a business which, while omnipresent, has always been characterised by chaos.

Yego Innovision, a company created recently in Rwanda, might, with its Yegomoto project, have come up with such an innovation. On the surface, the idea is simple: equip the ubiquitous taxi-motos with a device that is connected to the internet and GPS, so that you can monitor them, measure

And if that weren’t enough to qualify Yegomoto as a transformative innovation, the company will also use the system as a logistical platform for e-commerce, in which the taxi-motos can bring all kinds of goods and services to your doorstep. As such, Yegomoto is definitely a game-changer. We wish them all the best, and hope to have many haggle-free rides.

S

We appreciate your feedback. Please keep sending more on info@hope-mag.com or visit www.hope-mag.com, to post your comment on any published story. We shall pick it and respond to you asap!

Erwin Winkler

Care is taken to ensure accuracy, Hope Magazine assume no liability for error or omissions in this publication. All Advertisements are taken in good faith, opinions and views contained herein are not necessarily those of the Publisher. All copyrights and trademarks are recognized. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form without written permission by Hope Magazine. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts with the purpose of fair review. © 2013 www.hope-mag.com

7

Cover Story ...

YEGOMOTO SPECIAL FEATURE

Yegomoto

The

Revolution Vuga Yego! ffLOVE THEM OR LOATHE THEM – AND MOST PEOPLE HAVE MIXED FEELINGS – BUT FOR MANY RWANDANS, MOTO-TAXIS ARE THE MOST CONVENIENT FORM OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT. WHILE THEY HAVE A POOR REPUTATION WITH REGARDS TO TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ONE HAS TO HAGGLE FOR THE FARE, THEY ARE OFTEN THE ONLY WAY TO GET YOU EXACTLY TO YOUR CHOSEN DESTINATION, AS BUSES MOSTLY PLY THE MAIN ROADS.

Yegomoto CEO Singh shows how the motorcycles are monitored at Yegomoto's HQ

Y

ego Innovision’s Yegomoto project aims to make Rwanda’s motorcycles more efficient while bringing transparency and fairness to the fares, for both the driver and passenger. Yegomoto equips the bikes with a Yegomoto meter, which, through GPS tracking, calculates the fare based on distance travelled and time taken while helping drivers navigate. “We want to offer a frictionless moto experience,” explains Yego’s CEO Karanvir Singh. “Each Yegomoto has an internetconnected meter, which monitors the distance travelled and displays the fare in real-time. At the end of the ride, the meter calculates the fare, which saves you from having to negotiate before the ride.”

Yegomoto drive 10

Prior to launching Yegomoto, the team at Yego spent 18 months conducting in-depth surveys to understand the market. They spoke with over a 1000 passengers and drivers, and took 1500 rides around the city. They negotiated with the driver for each trip and carried the meter at the same time, which helped them collect data about the existing fares and distances.

This valuable data has been shared with the authorities to help them arrive at the official fare for taxi-motos.

In just 3 months, Yegomoto drivers have covered 1,793,693 kilometres and completed 368,102 metered trips.

By early December, some 700 drivers

Yegomoto staff with one of their drivers HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

had been verified and trained by Yego on how to use the meter, road safety, soft skills and etiquette, amongst other things. Yegomoto expects to have outfitted all 15,000 taxi-motos in Kigali by May 2018, and will then move to cover the rest of Rwanda.

The company provides drivers not just with meters, but also with new helmets and a charger for the meter that can also charge the passenger’s phone.

To ensure the smooth functioning of the system, the company maintains the meters, provides SIM cards for the meters and pays for the data bundles.

The market research also showed that 400 new taxi-motos are being added

YEGOMOTO SPECIAL FEATURE

e-Commerce Yego Innovision is investing over $14 million in Yegomoto, but this is only the first step.

“It’s a precursor to something much larger,” Singh says. “The Yegomoto platform will become the logistics backbone and basis for e- and m-commerce in Rwanda. The idea is to transform Yegomoto into a comprehensive platform through which people can order goods and services.This could include groceries, hiring a plumber to repair a leak, or having a suit taken to the dry-cleaner and brought back in time for an important meeting.”

Since less than 30% of the phones in Rwanda are smartphones, Yego is investing in a 24/7 call centre through which all the services can be accessed by feature phone users as well by dialling the tollfree number 9191. It is expected that the system will be operational

by February 2018, although it will take some time for the database of product and service providers to grow.

Lessons Learned Singh compares that Yego is akin to a living organism, in that it is learning, adapting and evolving in response to its environment.

He explains that not all has been smooth sailing – some meters have been stolen, lost or damaged, which has forced the company to institute a refundable security deposit of Rwf 50,000 (payable in instalments) which is approximately 10% of the investment in each driver.

every month, and their number has quadrupled in the last 3 years. This unrelenting growth congests the roads, increases pollution and the possibility of road accidents, and in the end makes the business unsustainable. While it may sound contrary to Yego’s business model, Singh says that they are keen to encourage the motorcycle drivers to move on and open small businesses.

Yegomoto encourages the drivers to adopt a habit of saving, and can provide them with a statement of their monthly earnings to help them get loans from banks.

Taxi-moto drivers celebrate the completion of their training in the Yegomoto system

Corporate accounts Yego will also soon launch corporate accounts, where institutions and companies will be provided with NFC tags that will be linked to their account. The company in turn can provide cards with different daily or weekly limits to their employees for taxi-moto transport.

Yegomoto stand at the recently held Made in Rwanda expo

The company will be able to manage their moto-related expenses and view statistics and itemized billing for every ride. This will bring transparency, visibility and easier accountability into an activity which is presently cash-based and difficult to manage, thereby helping companies streamline taxi-moto related expenses.

GPS & Internet-based metre which shows the route and fee

He adds that this will also give a boost to independent service providers – especially technicians like plumbers, electricians, cleaners, hairdressers etc. – whose customer base is normally limited to the area where they work.

That is why the platform will also feature a rating system for the service providers, as well as their specialty.

This will also increase business for taximotos, as the system will also allow you to request for a motorcycle at a specific location and time, and they will be involved in transporting the service providers. www.hope-mag.com

Some passengers complain that Yegomotos are expensive – they claim they pay much more by meter than when negotiating – but Singh replies that it is important to understand that the taxi- moto business is extremely competitive, which means drivers often accept just half of what they would normally charge, because they are desperate to make any money.

In addition, drivers tend to think in absolute figures. For instance, they might agree to travel distance of 16 kilometres for Rwf 1,000, when in reality this only covers a distance of 8 kilometres. All this, in the end, is unfair for the drivers, who already have a tough job of 12 to 14 hours per day, with numerous occupational hazards.

The meter, on the other hand, calculates a fee based on the distance travelled – and since RURA will be setting the tariff per kilometre, it will be fair for both the passenger and the driver.

Looking at future, Yego’s overall aim is to provide infrastructure that will help entrepreneurs and small businesses, and generate more employment opportunities for youth.

But for now, it has its eyes firmly set on revolutionising the way taximotos operate.

11

YEGOMOTO SPECIAL FEATURE

Business ...

Yegomoto CEO Karanvir Singh signs the agreement in the presence of Norman Munyampundu, MTN’s Chief Business Officer

YEGOMOTO Pushes the Drive for Cashless Society � AS MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE, THE GOAL OF YEGOMOTO IS TO MAKE USING A TAXI-MOTO A MORE CONVENIENT, HASSLE-FREE EXPERIENCE. BY INTRODUCING METERS, THE CUMBERSOME PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING THE FEE IS ALREADY ELIMINATED.

A

“The normal USSD procedure takes 6 steps, which is rather cumbersome,” Singh explains. “But with Tap & Pay, it’s much easier; the NFC tag on your phone will identify you and your mobile wallet, and you also don’t have to enter the trip ID anymore, as the meter is set up and will provide the information when tapped. This information is then sent to our back-end, where a mobile money transaction is initiated; the only thing remaining is for you to enter your pin number to confirm the transaction.”

remaining issue, however, is the payment – every regular taxi-moto user will know the frustrating experience of arriving at the destination, only to be told by the driver that he doesn’t have change (especially coins). That is particularly annoying when you are in a place where there are no other taximotos or shops nearby, and in the end most often the passenger will have to concede and pay for instance Rwf 1,000 when it was supposed to be Rwf 800.

To address this issue, and also to subscribe to the government’s strategy to turn Rwanda into a cashless society, Yegomoto is also pushing for cashless to be the preferred mode of payment on its platform. That is why the company recently entered into a partnership with MTN Rwanda which will make it possible for passengers to pay a Yegomoto driver with MTN Mobile Money.

12

Cash payments are no longer necessary with Yegomoto

“We are delighted to partner with MTN,” remarked Karanvir Singh, the CEO of Yego Innovision. “With their countrywide coverage, Yegomoto will soon be available on all motor-taxis – from the biggest town to the smallest village.” What is more, passengers will also be able to pay with their mobile wallets using MTN’s ‘Tap & Pay’ NFC tags, which considerably simplifies the payment procedure.

HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

And to promote cashless payments f o r t a x i - m o t o r i d e s , Ye g o h a s proposed that the fee calculated by the meter can be rounded up if the payment is in cash, while the exact amount will be charged for mobile payments. So if for example the meter reads Rwf 425, the meter will charge Rwf 500 in cash, while the e-payment will be exactly Rwf 425.

YEGOMOTO SPECIAL FEATURE

YEGOMOTO rewards exemplary drivers with

smartphones and motorcycle � APART FROM MAKING THE TAXI-MOTO EXPERIENCE MORE ENJOYABLE FOR PASSENGERS, YEGOMOTO ALSO AIMS TO ENCOURAGE THE DRIVERS TO DRIVE MORE SAFELY AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN ORDER FOR ALL THEIR PAPERWORK (WHICH IS A PREREQUISITE TO OBTAIN A GPS METER).

exemplary drivers, who were then invited to a raffle in which two taximoto drivers received a smartphone and one lucky winner, Jean-Claude Munyemana, got a brand new motorcycle. Yego Innovision’s CEO Karanvir Singh explained that the initiative is meant to encourage the drivers to show exemplary behaviour in terms of using the Yegomoto meter, paying insurance and cooperative membership and driving safely, and also help them improve their livelihood.

“Many of the motorcycle drivers rent their taxi-moto, which can cost Rwf 5,000 per day. Now, the winner of the bike will not have to pay this rent anymore, which will save him a lot of money,” Singh said. “Also, a new motorcycle is likely to be preferred by clients.” He added that Yegomoto will give away smartphones and a motorcycle every month. Winner Munyemana for his part was beaming with joy, because even if he did own his own motorcycle, it was very old and its replacement was most welcome.

The winners of the first Yegomoto lottery

N

ow, Yego Innovision is going a step further and has launched a campaign in which its most exemplary drivers have the chance to win a motorcycle and smartphones every month. For the first give-away, which took place at Kigali Heights where the Yegomoto headquarters are located, the company made a pre-selection of 23 of its most

Winner Jean-Claude Munyemana receives the keys for his new motorcycle from Yego Innovision’s CEO Karanvir Singh

Yegomoto staff celebrate motorcycle winner Jean-Claude Munyemana www.hope-mag.com

13

KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY SPECIAL FEATURE

Regional Business ...

KPA TIPS MEDIA

on coverage of Mombasa Port developments ffTHE KENYA PORT AUTHORITY (KPA) TOOK SOME DAYS OFF THIS MONTH TO TIP JOURNALISTS FROM EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES WHOSE TRADERS FREQUENTLY USE MOMBASA PORT – RWANDA, BURUNDI, TANZANIA, UGANDA, SOUTH SUDAN, KENYA AND THE DR CONGO – ON ITS ACTIVITIES.

KPA MD Mturi-Waira (L) hands over an award to Nation Media Group's Mwangi after his presentation during the workshop

T

he media workshop, the fourth of its kind, took place at the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa in Mombasa from 20 th November. While welcoming the participants, the KPA Managing Director Catherine Mturi-Wairi said the workshop was a boost to KPA’s efforts to improve media awareness and understanding of global and regional transport dynamics. “Many of you will appreciate that doing a comprehensive maritime and logistics story is never a walk in the park.

One needs to get a deeper understanding of different players’ roles in the logistic chain to write a good story.

14

And that is why we believe that for all of us to uphold professionalism in our respective fields, there must be a deliberate and continuous productive exchange,” she noted. Mturi-Wairi further observed that there is need for continuous engagement and discourse to deepen understanding of the maritime transport and the whole logistics chain.

Port developments Mturi-Wairi explained that since the last media workshop in 2015, a number of issues concerning performance and infrastructure development had been resolved. At the time, the port had, for the first HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

time in its history, handled a total throughput of 24.9 million tons and over 1 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs). “This performance reinforced Mombasa Port’s position in the league of global players. It is also a clear indication of market confidence in the prevailing business environment underscored by improved regional integration,” she said.

With regards to infrastructure development, the following progress was discussed: acquisition of more modern equipment, construction of phase 1 of the second container terminal which was then 95% complete, continued port automation

KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY SPECIAL FEATURE

which focused on the effective interface with the national single window system and single customs territory, the integrated security system which had just been implemented and had positioned the Port of Mombasa as one of the most secure maritime facilities on the continent, reduction of non-tariff barriers along the northern corridor and construction of the standard-gauge railway (SGR) which had been launched in November 2013.

“After touring the port and sample for yourself the progress we have made since 2015, you will find that the second container terminal is now operational, construction of phase 1 of the SGR is complete, as is linking the port and the Nairobi inland container depot.

In addition you will see new access roads to the new container terminal aimed at easing traffic and cargo off-take,” Mturi-Wairi explained.

“In 2015 the port handled 1million TEUs for the first time in its history. We have continued to sustain the tempo despite the prevailing difficult global economic trends,” Mturi-Wairi explained.

2016 performance In 2016, KPA handled a total of 27.36 million tons of cargo up from 26.73 million tons handled in 2015, an increase of 2.4%. Container traffic alone recorded an increase of 15,253 TEUs from 1.076 million TEUs handled in 2015 to 1.091 million TEUs in 2016, giving a growth of 1.4%. In the category of transit traffic, the port handled 7.748 million tons last year up from 7,667 million tons handled in 2015, representing an increase of 1.06%.

Mombasa Port at night The port has invested in new equipment to handle cargo faster

Over the last five years, cargo throughput has registered a steady annual growth of 5.7% from 21.92 million tons in 2012 to 27.36 million tons in 2016. Similarly, container traffic has registered an impressive growth of 4.8% rising from 903,463 TEUs in 2012 to 1,091,371 TEUs, according to KPA. Over the same period, transit traffic grew by 4.0% to record 7.75 million tons in 2016 up from 6.63 million tons in 2012. This growth was significantly supported by especially Uganda-bound cargo which grew by 7.1% over the same period.

Port Development Projects To remain responsive to shipping and trade trends, KPA continued to implement elaborate port modernization programmes to position Mombasa as a world class port of choice.

Towards this end, KPA has expanded yards and berths to handle more cargo, revamped the ICT system for faster document processing, modernized cargo handling equipment,

KPA employee (R) shares his experience with a journalist during the workshop

Some of the journalists pose for a photo at the workshop held in November

Performance overview since 2012

The port handled a total of 22,756,448 tons of cargo compared with 20,566,156 tons registered in the corresponding period in 2016, reflecting an increase of 2,190,293 tons or 10.6%.

Workshop convened journalists from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Tanzania and South Sudan

Of the total traffic, Uganda commanded 81.9% share followed by South Sudan (7.7%), the DR Congo (4.9%), Rwanda (2.5%), Tanzania(2.4%), Burundi(0.5%), Somali(0.1%) and others at 0.1%. “The mild growth is however set to change this year as signs depict a huge growth in this sector,” she said.

2017 performance “This year we have witnessed signs of a good performance in the last nine months from January to September, despite the prolonged election period,” Mturi-Wairi said. www.hope-mag.com

installed a state of the art integrated security system to control pilferage, dredged the port channel and widened its turning basin.

Consequently, the Port can now attract and accommodate larger vessels.

“All in all, in every task we undertake we focus on raising and sustaining our performance to world class standards so that the Port waits for ships and not vice-versa, ship turnaround time is less than 48hrs, dwell time is less than 72hrs and transit time is at its bare minimum,” the KPA Managing Director concluded.

15

AKAGERA BUSINESS GROUP SPECIAL FEATURE

FUSO FJ-2528C Tipper

FUSO FJ-2528C Tipper

Motoring ...

Need a Reliable & Powerful Truck ,

IS FUSO THE WAY TO GO � WHEN IT COMES TO TRUCKS, WHETHER HEAVY-DUTY OR LIGHTDUTY, WHAT MATTERS IS RELIABILITY. YOU DON’T WANT A TRUCK THAT BREAKS DOWN WHEN IT’S FULLY LOADED, OR ONE THAT STARTS HAVING ISSUES ONLY A YEAR AFTER YOU BOUGHT IT.

W

ith FUSO trucks, reliability is what you get – as you get f r o m A K A G E R A M O TO R S , part of AKAGERA BUSINESS GROUP, which is the exclusive distributor of FUSO trucks in Rwanda. In the heavyduty category, there is the FUSO FJ-2528C Tipper 6X4 (FJX3WK2LK8A). It has a tough, durable chassis and suspension that allow heavier loads – the ‘25’ refers 16

to the truck’s gross vehicle mass (GVM), which is 25 tonnes, while its kerb weight is 8 tonnes, meaning it can take 17 tonnes of payload. That is borne by a front axle with a capacity of 6 tonnes and a rear axle (first + second) of 19 tonnes. The 6X4 refers to the wheels, with one single-tire set in front and two dual-tire sets at the rear. The wheelbase measures 4.95 meters, while the trucks overall length is 7.16 meters.

HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

Fuso Canter

The FUSO FJ-2528C comes with a versatile, high-performance diesel engine that is more fuel-efficient; it has 4 inline cylinders, with water-cooled direct injection and a maximum output of 205 KW. The ‘28’ refers to the truck’s horsepower (HP), which is 280 HP. With a 9-speed manual transmission, the truck reaches a maximum speed of 90 KM/H. Its fuel tank has a capacity of 255 liters.

While the FUSO FJ-2528C comes as a tipper, AKAGERA MOTORS can also transform it into a mixer. In the light-duty category, there is the FUSO Canter 4X2 (FE84CE6L), which is a light-duty truck that can easily be modified to suit any business purpose. While it comes standard as a flatbed truck with rails, it can also have a fully enclosed cargo area, a cage (as used by beverage companies transporting crates) or a tank for liquids – all of which can be installed

by AKAGERA MOTORS. With a wheelbase of 3.35 meters and an overall length of 6.03 meters, the Canter has a payload of 4.295 tonnes and a maximum gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 6.5 tonnes. It comes with a 4-cylinder diesel engine, and 6-gear manual transmission and a 100-liter fuel tank. It can reach a maximum speed of 110 KM/H. As it’s a truck that is designed for transport of goods that will need to be on and off-loaded, the two passenger seats (in addition to the driver’s seat) are standard.

For both types of FUSO trucks, AKAGERA MOTORS has all spare parts available and can do all repairs in its workshop. The trucks come with a warranty of 2 years or 100,000 KM. And even better, they offer free servicing for the first 2,500 KMs. The FUSO FJ-2528C Tipper 6X4 is available at AKAGERA MOTORS for 63,000,000,RWF (inclusive VAT), and the Fuso Canter at 35,000,000 RWF (inclusive VAT).

MTN RWANDA SPECIAL FEATURE

Innovation ...

Karanvir Singh CEO and Managing Director of Yego Innovision and Norman Munyampundu MTN’s Chief Business Officer, shake hands on the partnership

MTN in partnership with Yegomoto to extend digital inclusion

Karanvir Singh explains how the Yegomoto GPS device works

ff MTN Rwanda has partnered with Yego Innovision, a local company that has designed a convenient way of helping motor-taxi drivers calculate transport fees electronically.

T

20

he Yegomoto meter includes a GPS, which automatically calculates the price of the fare based on the distance travelled by the passenger. This innovative service will enable the 1.3 million active Mobile

The signature of the agreement

Money users to pay for motorcycle fares with MTN Mobile Money. “MTN has the widest and largest network in the country, so it is only logical that we are key partners in promoting digital inclusion and encouraging e-commerce across Rwanda with Yegomoto,” said MTN’s Chief Business Officer, Norman Munyampundu. “Yegomoto is changing the face of the motorcycle transport industry in Rwanda and we are glad to be a part of this journey.” By May 2018, all 15,000 motor-taxis operating in Kigali City will be equipped with Yegomoto meters, thus bringing an end to haggling over fares. In 2018, this service will be extended to the rest of Rwanda.

HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

Yegomoto's Singh and MTN's Munyampundu have some fun on a Yegomoto

In the first 76 days since the launch, Yegomoto drivers have made 297,461 trips and covered 1,495,457 kilometres. “We are delighted to partner with MTN,” remarked Karanvir Singh, the CEO and Managing Director of Yego Innovision. “With their countrywide coverage, Yegomoto will soon be available on all motor-taxis – from the biggest town to the smallest village.” MTN’s partnership with Yegomoto to bring this innovative cashless payment solution to the public reflects the commitment of both companies to contribute to the national strategy on expanding cashless transactions that offer convenience and security to all Rwandans.

KCB BANK SPECIAL FEATURE

KCB MOBILOAN Q What is KCB Mobiloan?

A This is a mobile based loan product that enables you to apply and receive a loan to your bank account instantly, anytime through your phone and within pre-determined limit, from RWF 500 to RWF 500,000.

the loan term

� Accept

terms and conditions and confirmation

of the details just given. � An initial SMS message will be sent immediately

on confirmation of request for loan.

�

A second SMS message is sent on successful or unsuccessful request.

� A SMS message will be sent on successful

or unsuccessful request

Q How do I check my Mobiloan balance?

A On the Mobiloan menu: Select option 4

"Loan Status” and then you will receive a response that contains your Loan Balance.

Q What are the requirements for KCB Mobiloan Service?

Q How do I access Terms and Conditions?

Q Do I get charged interest on my Mobiloan?

A You must be a KCB account holder, registered

A You see a summary of terms and conditions

A The loan granted will attract interest charge

on KCB Mobi and qualified (as per predefined criteria).

Q How do I qualify for Mobiloan?

A You have to be an active account holder for at least 6 months, must have a good track record as per predefined criteria and must borrow within advised limit.

Q How do I register for KCB Mobiloan?

A As long as you are registered on KCB Mob

bank then you can access the Mobiloan menu.

Q If I request for a loan of RWF 2,000 how much will I receive?

A You will receive RWF 2,000.

Q How much will I need to pay back?

A You will be required to pay the amount borrowed including interest charged. All payable within one month.

Q How do I pay back my loan?

A There are two options: - You may pay before the due date by going to the "Pay Loan" menu or wait for the loan to be automatically recovered from your account on the Due Date.

Q How do I request for a loan on the service?

A Log into KCB Mobi using "'522 or Mobi App on your phone Mobiloan. � Then select Request Loan � Enter Amount � Select account where the money-Is to be credited. � Select

24

� Select

by selecting "Loan Terms" on Mobiloan menu or go to: newsgroup for full terms and conditions for Mobiloan.

Q What is the minimum amount I can borrow?

A The minimum amount you

can borrow is RWF 500 and the maximum amount is dependent on your credit limit. Credit limit is the maximum amount of loan you qualify to borrow calculated based on how much you transact through your account and how regular.

of 6% per month

Your credit limit will increase or decrease depending on how often and how much you bank into your bank account and also good repayment of loans. The credit limit will be suspended if you: Don't repay your loan on time, You have overdrawn your bank account, You have other unpaid loans or account is not receiving deposits.

Q How do I Know how much I can borrow?

A You can check your credit limit by going to the Loan Status menu.

Q Does credit limit change?

A Your credit limit will increase or decrease

depending on how often and how much you bank into your bank account and also good repayment of loans. The credit limit will be suspended if you: Don't repay your loan on time, You have overdrawn your bank account, You have other unpaid loans or account is not receiving deposits.

Q How do I pay back a loan?

A From 'Mobiloan' menu � Select

'Pay Loan'

� Enter Amount

and Confirm

HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

Q Can I have more than one loan at a time?

A No. You have to repay your outstanding

loan first before you can borrow another loan.

Q If I have not paid my loan within time, what will happen?

A You should always pay your loan when due

to avoid penalties. A penalty of 10% will be charged on outstanding loan amount after due date. Further default may result to listing with Credit Reference Bureau.

Q What happens if you pay in excess of the loan amount?

A Your bank account will only be debited with outstanding loan balance.

BRALIRWA SPECIAL FEATURE

Corporate Responsibility ...

Bralirwa’s Freddy Nyangezi said the company will donate more solar systems

L

Freddy Nyangezi, Bralirwa’s Corporate Affairs Manager test one of the new solar systems with the beneficiaries

Bralirwa inaugurates solar kits given to 283 Kayonza Families

eading beverages manufacturer Bralirwa, on Saturday officially inaugurated solar kits provided to 283 vulnerable families who live around Bralirwa’s co-owned Bramin farm in Kayonza District in the Eastern Province. In a deal that was signed in October this year with the district of Kayonza and the Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL), Bralirwa agreed to donate solar electricity systems to the families in line with the company’s values to respect people and the environment in which they live, by creating a positive impact on communities around the business.

Speaking during the event, which started with the planting of 1,200 trees in Ndego Sector in the district, Freddy Nyangezi, Bralirwa’s Corporate Affairs Manager, noted that the company is working hand in hand with different stakeholders to enable rural electrification. “We always look for opportunities to empower communities such as providing access to electricity. We have started with the 283 households but we will do more,” he said. The solar systems, supplied by Mobisol, consist of a solar panel, a battery, 3 lights, a solar lantern and a phone charger kit.

Bralirwa delegation also joined residents in umuganda to plant 1200 trees

Farm manager Keith McGaw gives the visitors a tour of Bramin 26

It took one week to install all systems in the homes. Jean Damascene Harerimana, the vice-Mayor in charge of Social Affairs in Kayonza, commended Bralirwa for not only focusing on quenching people’s thirst with their beverages but also eradicating darkness from people’s homes. “Having electricity is much better than using the kerosene lamps that often gave people problems,” he remarked. “I want to thank Bralirwa for this effort, as rural electrification isn’t its main business.” The participants in the ceremony were also given a tour of Bramin maize farm by Keith McGaw, the farm manager. Bramin is a modern, irrigated maize farm set up by Bralirwa and maize millers Minimex to ensure local supply of highquality maize. The farm has been a blessing to Ndego sector, as it provides employment to about 200 of its residents.

HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

Airtel Q&A on

Business ...

Bomba Packs Commercial Director

Moses Abindabizemu Airtel Commercial Director

ff Airtel has kept a great reputation as best telecom with fast, affordable internet and calling rates since penetrating Rwandan market.

Q What have you done best to maintain this reputation?

A When we entered Rwanda, Airtel’s sole

objective was to demystify communication and make it very convenient for every Rwandan. To make this happen, we had to invest heavily in infrastructure, distribution and people. Having set this standard, we had to ensure that this objective is effectively achieved and sustained.

Q So what have we done?

A We have ensured we give the best price offers on the market, be it for voice or data. I believe we give better value than what Rwandans normally expect. We ensure we deliver what we promise. If we promise a good data experience, we give that by investing more & monitoring in our quality KPIs to keep them top of the bar. No one today can challenge Airtel on our internet Experience.

Q You recently launched a new service called BOMBA Packs. Tell us about it…

A This is a product that perfectly fits into our 28

strategic objectives – Giving much more value for less to all Rwandans. It’s a 4in1 product that gives 1GB every day, FREE calls to Airtel numbers, free SMS plus you get to call other networks at only 20Rwf per minute.

For just Rwf 500 a day or Rwf 3000 a week or Rwf 10000 a month, you get to enjoy all you need to communicate with your loved ones and stream the world with ease. With the introduction of BOMBA packs, calling, browsing and texting have been demystified.

If you are not using Bomba today, you are surely paying more somewhere else.

Q What are the unique benefits of BOMBA packs to Airtel subscribers?

A The core advantage is that subscribers can

now budget for their communication needs.

For example, once I subscribe to a Bomba pack, I don’t have to worry about missing out on anything. For as little as 10,000 francs, I can contact my family members, colleagues and business partners for an entire month.

Q Why did you decide to bundle up data and voice?

A With data, subscribers get an online connection to stream the world in an instant and with voice, they can communicate in real time HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

with whomever they choose. By bundling them together, our subscribers do not have to go through the hustle of buying and subscribing to each bundle separately; they just subscribe to a pack and they get everything that they need instantly. We now even give free texts and calls to other networks at the lowest off-net rate in Rwanda – 20Rwf per minute.

Q Which base of subscribers does BOMBA Packs target?

A Bomba targets all customers both on Airtel and with other networks… Anyone can subscribe to Bomba.

Q How can subscribers access these packs?

A Simply Dial *456#, Select BOMBA (Option 1)

and select either a daily, weekly or monthly pack that suits your needs.

Q What more can you tell our readers?

A I would like to promise the readers that we

shall continue to provide them with the best telecommunications solutions. For those already on Airtel, I call upon you to enjoy the experience. For those who have not yet joined, switch to enjoy the most affordable rates, the best services and an overall excellent experience.

BPR - ATLAS MARA SPECIAL FEATURE

Finance & Banking ...

BPR’S MD. LOOKS TO

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AHEAD FOR BANKING

Q&A

With Maurice Toroitich BPR Managing Director

AS MAURICE TOROITICH SETTLES IN HIS NEW JOB AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BANK POPULAIRE DU RWANDA LTD BPR, PART OF ATLAS MARA, HE TELLS HOPE MAGAZINE HE HOPES TO CREATE A WINNING SPIRIT THAT WILL BE ANCHORED IN PROFESSIONALISM.

Q How have you approached your new job at BPR?

A BPR is a well established institution with its traditions and a way of doing things that have put it in the number 2 slot in the banking sector in Rwanda. There are also many opportunities that BPR has not taken advantage of in the past. I have been listening a lot to all the stakeholders of the bank to understand the things that work and also the things that don’t work so that I get to know where the opportunities lie. What I learnt from these engagements that will be instrumental in what I do in BPR going forward.

Q What do you hope to achieve in your

new position?

A I hope to create a winning spirit in BPR that is anchored in professionalism and a true desire to serve. It is only when our customers’ expectations are met that we can hope to keep our business.

30

HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

Maurice Toroitich BPR Managing Director

BPR - ATLAS MARA SPECIAL FEATURE

It should also be noted that during times of boom, credit expansion was high and banks may have extended credit to slightly marginal businesses which during the boom are well shielded from business shocks, but when the economy slows down, the marginal businesses fall off very fast. I think we are in the initial stages of this fall-off, that’s why NPLs are on the rise.

Q Where do you see BPR and the banking sector in

general in the next five years?

A Banking is undergoing massive change which is driven by technology.

We are only getting to begin to know some of these technologies and the future is exponential. I foresee that in the next 5 to 10 years, most banking services will be on a self-service basis driven by hand-held electronic devises and so the structure of a bank as we know it today will change radically.

This means that strategically, BPR must position itself to ride the wave of change and I do not believe that the change will be progressive – it will be transformational. As for banking careers, the next 5 to 10 years will also see a lot of transformation and current estimates indicate that in that period, 70% of banking jobs in their current format will be non-existent. That says a lot about how banking will be done in the very near future.

Q What new ideas do you bring to BPR?

A There are hardly any magical ideas or solutions that have not been done by someone else. However, I hope to inspire the teams to apply current and new ideas in a way that boosts all stakeholders on a sustainable basis.

I will work closely with the team and all stakeholders to make sure that the bank becomes more relevant to its customers and has a forward looking attitude to the challenges of today and the future which is always unfolding.

Q What is your take on the reduction of loans in

the market and increasing non-performing loans?

A The increase in NPLs is reflective of the state of the economy.

GDP growth over the last three years has been decreasing and this usually has an impact on the state of economic activity.

Typically, when an economy slows down NPLs rise because businesses experience difficulty to create new business and to generate cashflow. www.hope-mag.com

31

ENGEN RWANDA SPECIAL FEATURE

Motoring ...

Engen Quicklube

All your car needs served with convenience LEADING FUEL MARKETER ENGEN RWANDA INTRODUCED THE ENGEN QUICKLUBE AT ALL ITS STATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY LAST MONTH, OFFERING CUSTOMERS A VARIETY OF CAR SERVICES AT THEIR CONVENIENCE.

A client at Engen Station Kimironko spins the wheel to win a free engine service among other prizes

During the launch, staff of Engen Rwanda also took time to reward its clients with a promotion in which customers could spin a wheel to stand a chance to win free car servicing as well as other prizes such as wheel covers. Engen has its own range of efficient lubricants that ensure outstanding performance in automotive transmissions.

A pick-up is quickly serviced at the Nyabugogo Engen Station last month

About Engen

S

arah Doukoure, the Managing Director of Engen Rwanda, told Hope Magazine the new campaign means that the all Engen service stations are unique in that clients can park their car, get the engine oil changed and have the coolant and hydraulics checked in record time, among other services. “We want our clients to know that they can receive a diverse range of services conveniently, allowing them to go along with their daily routines with cars in top condition,� she explained.

Engen has its own range of High-Quality Lubricants 34

Engen Rwanda, commenced operations in Rwanda in November 2008 acquiring the assets of TOTAL and thus becoming a leading producer and marketer of a wide range of fuels, lubricants and oil-based products in the country. It currently operates 21 service stations in Rwanda and operates across 18 African markets.

Engen, with us you are number one.

An Engen Rwanda QuickLube Service station where clients can receive numerous engine services HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

DEVELOPMENT BANK OF RWANDA SPECIAL FEATURE

Investment ...

BRD is blazing the trail in

Financing SMEs ffONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACED BY SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES) IN RWANDA, AND IN AFRICA IN GENERAL, IS ACCESS TO FINANCE. ON THE ONE HAND, COMPANY OWNERS OFTEN FAIL TO PREPARE A CONVINCING BUSINESS PLAN TO PRESENT TO A BANK, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TEND TO SHY AWAY FROM SMES WHICH THEY CONSIDER HIGH RISK.

Forum

The panel session on financing solutions for SMEs by banks and financial institutions at the SME & Banking Africa Forum

Y

et it seems that change is in the air. During the fourth edition of the SME & Banking Africa Forum, which took place in November in Kigali, financial institutions in Rwanda pledged at least $223 million to SME financing.

The annual forum aims to enable African SMEs to access financing through banks, investment funds, guarantee funds, foundations and Business Angels.

It also allows entrepreneurs to expand their networks and receive advice from business development specialists and fundraisers. The commitment by the banks, made at a new initiative entitled ‘La Finance s’Engage’ (The Financial Sector Commits Itself) followed a panel session on financing solutions for SMEs by banks and 42

financial institutions which involved the CEO of the Rwanda Development Bank (BRD), Alex Kanyankole, Former CEO of the Private Sector Federation, Stephen Ruzibiza, the COO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Emmanuel Hategeka, and Kora Associates’s CEO Mireille Karera. “98% of businesses we register at RDB are SMEs, and all their challenges of access to finance are similar,” said Hategeka, adding that in his previous function as permanent secretary at the ministry of trade and industry, he noticed how banks were avoiding funding SMEs. “I am glad to say that this has changed today,” he noted. Kanyankole for his part observed that BRD is the financial institution with the biggest portfolio to HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

support SMEs in Rwanda. “BRD helps SMEs have access to finance, directly, through the Business Development Fund and through partnership with the government,” he said. “We also work closely with other financial institutions, from commercial banks to Umurenge SACCOs, to extend loans under the Export Growth Facility.”

Export-oriented SMEs And indeed, when it comes to financing SMEs BRD has been a trailblazer, going where other financial institutions feared to tread. In all of the priority sectors it finances – energy, exports, special projects & infrastructure, agriculture, housing, education – the bulk of the approved projects come from SMEs.

BRD to s

DEVELOPMENT BANK OF RWANDA SPECIAL FEATURE

As BRD Former CEO Kanyankole mentioned during the panel discussion, BRD manages the Export Growth Facility (EGF), which was created through a partnership with the German Development Bank (KFW) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The facility aims specifically at facilitating export-oriented SMEs to access finance through interest subsidies, grants and credit insurance facilities to boost their exports. The EGF targets SME’s which export up to 40% of their production, with a turnover ranging from $50,000 (Rwf 41.8m) to $1m (Rwf 835m). It is designed as a single facility with three windows:

A Matching Grant Fund for market-entry related costs: Matching grant to firms investing in activities specific to exporting that are not necessarily a consideration when not exporting;

BRD Former CEO Alex Kanyankole during the panel discussion at the fourth SME & Banking Africa

An Investment Catalyst Fund: Provision of a subsidy on the interest rate of loans targeted toward private sector investments in export oriented production;

An Export Guarantee Facility: Provide transaction-related guarantees to commercial banks to securitize export finance transactions up to 80% of value. In 2016, BRD approved eight projects for financing through the investment catalyst and matching grant funds.

These projects registered total approvals of Rwf 1.399 billion, expected to trigger the injection of Rwf 4.037 billion into the economy, create 1,049 permanent jobs and 3,925 temporary ones as well as contribute export revenues amounting to Rwf 11.3 billion to the balance of payments.

Loan guarantees

BRD supports export-oriented SMEs Through the Export Growth Facility

D had entered in a partnership with USAID support SMEs in the agriculture sector

... in February this year, BRD partnered with the Private Sector Driven Agriculture Growth Project (PSDAG), a USAID project to promote agriculture in Rwanda. Through the agreement, BRD has reserved about Rwf 140 billion for loans to finance agricultural mechanization, modernization, and processing technologies...

Another way of financing SMEs is the partnership between BRD and the Business Development Fund (BDF), which offers entrepreneurs loan guarantees. Through this partnership, guarantee facilities can be offered to project promoters who would otherwise be excluded from financial access due to insufficient collateral despite having viable projects that could have a positive economic impact to the country’s development. To the same effect, BRD has signed MoUs with pan-African organisations similar to BDF such as the Fonds de Solidarite Africain (FSA) and the African Guarantee Fund (AGF).

In addition, through its refinancing product for micro-finance institutions (MFIs), the bank extends affordable lines of credit and technical support to improve their operations. This has enabled BRD’s outreach all over the country and access to finance for SMEs, given the nature of MFIs’ operations and lending. This has played a significant role in supporting the government’s strategy of increasing access to finance and financial inclusion for all Rwandans, as well as in creating employment particularly in rural areas.

Agriculture BRD also regularly enters in punctual partnerships with organisations to support SMEs. For example, in February this year, BRD partnered with the Private Sector Driven Agriculture Growth Project (PSDAG), a USAID project to promote agriculture in Rwanda. Through the agreement, BRD has reserved about Rwf 140 billion for loans to finance agricultural mechanization, modernization, and processing technologies.

An additional Rwf 180 billion will be available to assist the export sector, including agricultural exports. The PSDAG project will also provide technical assistance to BRD staff and its partners as a contribution to achieving the national objective of increasing agriculture financing. The funds are used to provide low-rate, affordable loans for small farmers through microfinance institutions and community cooperatives, as well as to finance commercial projects in livestock, fish, and feed production, and offer financial guarantees for export and agriculture investments. www.hope-mag.com

43

TRANSUNION SPECIAL FEATURE

Innovation ...

Transunion introduces

Mobile Phone Solution

to know your own credit health

ffTRANSUNION RWANDA, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CREDIT REFERENCE BUREAU, IS A REPOSITORY OF CREDIT INFORMATION ON CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES; AS SUCH, IT ENABLES LENDERS TO MAKE FAST AND INFORMED, RELIABLE AND OBJECTIVE CREDIT DECISIONS. IT HAS NOW INTRODUCED A MOBILE SOLUTION MENYESHA TO GIVE PEOPLE EASIER ACCESS ABOUT THEIR CREDIT STATUS. TRANSUNION’S COUNTRY MANAGER, AIMABLE NKURANGA, TALKED TO HOPE MAGAZINE ABOUT THE TRANSUNION MENYESHA AND THE ORGANISATION’S OPERATIONS.

Q&A

With

Aimable Nkuranga Transunion Rwanda Country Manager

Q Briefly describe the new

Menyesha Mobile Solution?

A Menyesha is a mobile-based solution that was developed by Transunion to help Rwandans take change of their credit health. This means a person can, with his mobile phone, check his credit status and order a credit report, a credit score and a clearance report.

44

This app will help people know their status before they walk into the bank.

When a customer requests for a loan, financial institutions check our database for that person, and they get an image which helps them make a decision to approve or deny the loan.

Aimable Nkuranga, Transunion’s Country Manager

Menyesha is an SMS-based solution where customers send their ID number to the short code 2272, and then follows the SMS prompts to get the credit status. It is a platform that solves a crucial problem, because on average Rwandans travel one hour to get to the nearest financial institution only to get denied a loan because of a small problem with their credit status.

HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

Q Do you think that as it becomes easier

for people to know their credit score, the rate of defaults will reduce?

A The more people know about their credit status,

the more responsible they become as borrowers.

I don’t think a lot of people know their credit status or scores.

TRANSUNION SPECIAL FEATURE

It is only when there is a negative status on a person’s credit report, and he is denied a loan, that they realise there is an institution that’s keeps people’s credit history. So the Menyesha app addresses such problems and saves people time.

Q What inspired Transunion to

use ICT to improve its services and how do you expect it to enable you to serve your clients efficiently?

A In an institution like Transunion, we

serve all Rwandans but we cannot be everywhere, so ICT is one of the channels that help us reach everyone wherever and whenever they need our services without forcing them to come to our offices.

In the near future, we are going to launch Menyesha application for smart phones and provide the same information. We will also offer a lot more on the platform...

Q Do companies get credit scores? If so, do

they also have option of using the app?

A In our database we have information for individuals and companies. Menyesha is currently for individual consumers but in the future we will open it for companies. Currently, companies have to request their credit reports, through other existing channels.

Q What other innovations should we expect

from Transunion in the coming future?

A In the near future, we are going to launch the

Menyesha application for smart phones and provide the same information. We will also offer a lot more on the platform; e.g., when there is a change in your credit status, you will receive an SMS alert notifying you of it. This will be available before the end of next year.

Q If a customer realizes that their credit scores

are deteriorating, how do you help them improve?

A We normally offer people advise whenever they need it.

Different circumstances can make your status deteriorate; for example if you have a business and it collapses. But people react in different ways: some are quick to talk to their bankers and let them know what’s happening, others just ignore it. Normally we advise them on how to manage such situations.

People shouldn’t ignore or cut communic-ations with their banks, as they always find solutions that can help their clients. One thing clients often don’t know is that when someone has a good credit history, they have more bargaining power with lenders, for instance on interest rates.

A person with a good credit status has a bigger chance of getting a loan quickly and with good interest rates.

Q Apart from banks, which other clients are you

working with and in what ways?

A Apart from banks we work with microfinance institutions and SACCOs, with insurance companies, telecoms, utility companies, public Institutions like Rwanda Revenue Authority and including commercial enterprises such as Cimerwa or Mobisol. Our clientele is made up of different types of organizations.

When people think about a credit reference bureau like Transunion, some of them tend to think about us as a blacklisting company, but we are just an information company. We keep both negative and positive information and people have to leverage on that. We actually believe in information for good. www.hope-mag.com

45

KICS SPECIAL FEATURE

Education ...

KIGALI INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL ABOUT KIGALI INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL Kigali International Community School (KICS) is located in the beautiful capital city of Kigali, Rwanda. The school is a college preparatory day school offering classes for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. KICS opened with its first class on September 14, 2006.

Kigali International Community School Campus

K

MISSION

Today, KICS has more than 315 students from 26 nationalities. The student body includes expatriate and national families living and working in Kigali in various industries. Many families work with embassies, multinationals, NGOs, mission agencies, churches and private businesses.

The vision of KICS is to impact the world for Christ by preparing servant leaders who choose character before career, wisdom beyond scholarship, service above self, and a lifestyle of participation over apathy.

KICS is also the official site for U.S. College Board exams such as AP (Advanced Placement) and other U.S university entrance exams such as the PSAT, SAT and ACT. 46

Christ-Centered: At KICS, we seek to live out

ICS is a Christ-centered, U.S. accredited non-profit school that offers children of all nationalities and religions an education similar to that offered by schools in the USA. KICS is a fully accredited member of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) and Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), and is endorsed by the Rwandan Ministry of Education as a sound educational institution.

The mission at KICS is to provide a Christcentered, U.S. accredited primary and secondary education that challenges students to excel academically and live out a biblical worldview..

VISION

a biblical worldview that believes and articulates that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only way to have eternal life for all who believe.

Global Family: Each person created is an image bearer of God. At KICS, we value the diversity of creation by God the Father over all people, from every country and culture. As such, KICS values and respects the global nature of our family that comes from various countries of the world and is sent out to various countries of the world.

Customization: At KICS we value that each

KICS VALUES

student is an individual and we desire to help each student grow into the unique gifts, skills and talents God has placed inside of them.

Servant Leadership: We believe each

Lifelong Learners: At KICS we desire for each

person at KICS should live in a way that models the servant leadership of Christ.

HOPE NOVEMBER ISSUE 81

student to grow in the areas of critical thinking and problem solving for all areas of life.

KICS SPECIAL FEATURE

Q&A With Dr. Benjamin Thomas An Indian-American born and raised in New York, Dr. Thomas and his family moved to Kigali in 2014 to serve at Kigali International Community School. He has a Doctorate of Ministry in Global Christianity & Development and a MA in Christian Education from Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary, as well as a BA in Economics from Hobart College. Thomas has 15 years of leadership experience and is serving his 4th year at KICS. Prior to his service at KICS, Dr. Thomas served with Athletes in Action, an international sports ministry that has leaders spread out in over 60 countries.

Dr. Thomas served as the Global Director of Athletes in Action, focusing on their work outside the US.

Kindly take us through the history of KICS. The vision for Kigali International Community School (KICS) began in November 2005 as Christian expatriate families came together to seek answers for their children’s educational needs. KICS officially started in 2006 in a home with 7 students and 3 staff. Every year since, KICS has grown in student body, staff, resources and facilities. Most recently, KICS renovated part of its campus to allow student body growth and to update its science lab and information technology classroom to state of the art facilities. KICS has established itself as a leader in education as it continues to grow year after year.

How does your education differ from other international schools in Kigali?

Everything we do is rooted in our vision and mission statements. They serve as our guide in every aspect of the school. KICS teachers teach from a Biblical worldview, and are trained in current North American best teaching practices. Teachers aim to educate students in age-appropriate inquiry-based learning, emphasizing critical thinking and problem solving. In Primary, students develop cognitive and emotional skills as they grow in self-confidence.

In Secondary, students learn to craft their worldview, focus their interests and talents, and grow their academic skills in preparation for admission to the world’s finest universities. Outside classroom walls, we also offer many extracurricular activities including Model United Nations, science club, photography and fine arts, piano lab and multiple sports. Whether your student is at KICS for one year or their entire preparatory education, our goal is that they would leave with an individualized experience and a deeper sense of service and leadership.

Which universities have KICS graduates gone on to attend?

KICS graduates have attended over 16 universities around the world, including Pepperdine University & Wheaton College in the US and many more; Yale University of Singapore; and University of British Columbia, Trinity Western University and several others in Canada.

What are the criteria for admission at KICS? The Admissions Committee evaluates each applicant from a holistic perspective, including school records, age, test results, and overall personal dynamic. Ultimately, the Committee’s goal is to get to know each student and how KICS can best support and serve them individually. New enrollment is limited each year, and early admission begins in January.

What if a student is a non-native English speaker?

KICS has a dedicated Learning Support department that serves non-native English speakers, as well as students with learning disabilities. However, space is limited as we can only accept students that we have the resources and capacity to support . www.hope-mag.com

Lastly, KICS has just started its second decade, would you share your vision for KICS for the next 10 to 20 years.

Our motto for this decade at KICS is “His vision, Our future.” When I imagine KICS 20 years from now, I envision the full integration of academic excellence, spiritual growth and cultural intelligence being modeled, discovered and taught. I picture KICS as a spiritual greenhouse that sends forth servantleaders, who live out God’s message of grace, love, and truth daily in their careers and personal lives. In 20-30 years, I visualize a future where KICS will continue to expand the vision of education in Rwanda, East Africa and the Continent.

KICS is in the process of acquiring land to build a new, world-class facility that will not only include core academic buildings but also a fine arts center, a learning support center, an integrative computer technology center, a global leadership center and a sports center.

We are excited for the next 20 years at KICS as we believe God is continuing to take us on a journey of growth and excellence.

For more information about KICS PLEASE CONTACT registrar@kicsrw.org OR visit kicsrw.org.

47

48

49

ASIA MACHINERY INVESTMENTS LTD SINOTRUK RWANDA SALES & SERVICES CENTER

Mobile: +250 784 625 038, Gishushu area next to Accord hotel, KG628ST, Gasabo district, Kigali-Rwanda, Email. sinotruckrwanda@gmail.com