Rwanda Enters New Era With Launch of Nationwide Interoperable Payment System
The system enables instant, secure and seamless transactions across different channels, supporting Rwanda’s broader digital transformation agenda and long-term economic vision.
Rwanda has formally launched its National Digital Payment System, eKash, marking a major milestone in the country’s effort to build a fully interoperable financial ecosystem. The launch reflects years of work to move from a fragmented payments landscape to a unified system capable of supporting a cashless economy.
eKash integrates banks, mobile money operators and other financial service providers into a single national platform. The system enables instant, secure and seamless transactions across different channels, supporting Rwanda’s broader digital transformation agenda and long-term economic vision.
The rollout is the result of collaboration among key national and international institutions, including the Government of Rwanda, the National Bank of Rwanda, Access to Finance Rwanda, the AfricaNenda Foundation, the Rwanda Information Society Authority, the Gates Foundation, and the Mojaloop Foundation community. The initiative also demonstrates the capacity of African engineers and developers, as the platform was built entirely with regional technical talent.
Originally conceived over a decade ago as a policy initiative, eKash has evolved into a digital public good designed to simplify payments for citizens and businesses while strengthening financial inclusion. The launch signals Rwanda’s commitment to building modern financial infrastructure that can scale nationally and serve as a model for other African markets.
