10 Rwandan Female Tech Leaders You Should Know
AI Quick Summary
- Rwanda is celebrating International Women's Day by recognizing ten influential women who are significantly contributing to its technology and innovation sectors.
- These women include government ministers, tech entrepreneurs, CEOs, and innovators, shaping policy, driving digital transformation, and fostering entrepreneurship.
- Key figures like Paula Ingabire (Minister of ICT) and Claudette Irere (Minister of State for Education) are spearheading digital infrastructure and AI integration in education.
- Entrepreneurs such as Clarisse Iribagiza (HeHe Limited), Akaliza Keza Gara (Shaking Sun), and Tadhim Uwizeye (Olado) are building successful tech businesses and promoting digital skills.
- Other leaders like Sylvie Uhirwa (digital health), Cynthia Iradukunda (Women in Tech ambassador), Faith Keza (Meta & former Irembo CEO), Chantal Umutoni Kagame (MTN MoMo CEO), and Ornella Ndahiro (Code Empowerment Progress) are advancing various digital initiatives, financial inclusion, and tech education for youth.
Shortly after this article, Kigali hosted the Inclusive FinTech Forum (March 10-12, 2026) to advance financial inclusion through innovation, a sector where many Rwandan women leaders are making significant strides.
As the world marks International Women's Day, it is also an opportunity to recognize the women shaping the future of technology and innovation in Rwanda. From entrepreneurs and policymakers to ecosystem builders, many women are playing key roles in growing the country's tech and startup landscape.
Here are ten women among women contributing to Rwanda's technology ecosystem.
Paula Ingabire
As Rwanda's Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire plays a central role in shaping the country's digital transformation. She has supported policies and initiatives that strengthen Rwanda's startup ecosystem, digital infrastructure, and innovation programs.
Clarisse Iribagiza
Clarisse Iribagiza is the Co-founder of DeepTechAfrica. Following the acquisition of her first company, HeHe Limited, she shifted to venture building. Her current work focuses on commercializing advanced research including AI, robotics, and satellite data; to solve industrial challenges and drive digital sovereignty across the continent.
Akaliza Keza Gara
Akaliza Keza Gara is the founder of Shaking Sun and Yambi Animation Studios, where she has been a pioneer in Rwanda’s animation and digital design industry. She is also a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation, advocating for global digital inclusion and ethical AI.
Claudette Irere
Claudette Irere is a Minister of State for Education and a computer engineer who co-founded FabLab Rwanda and led kLab. A central architect of Rwanda’s digital innovation space, she currently drives the national strategy for AI in education and oversees the digitalization of technical and vocational training (TVET).
Tadhim Uwizeye
Tadhim Uwizeye is the founder of Olado, an e-commerce platform scaling "Made in Rwanda" products. As a UNCTAD eTradeforWomen leader, she advocates for female entrepreneurs and has helped onboard over 1,000 small businesses into Rwanda's digital economy.
Sylvie Uhirwa
Sylvie Uhirwa is a medical doctor and digital health innovator. She co-developed the Tantine mobile application, a platform that provides young people with reproductive health information through digital technology.
Iradukunda Cynthia
Cynthia Iradukunda is a software developer and the President of the Women in Tech (WiT) club at CMU-Africa. She drives initiatives like DevFest and Google Women Techmakers to bridge the gender gap, focusing on mentoring young engineers in AI and cloud computing.
Faith Keza
Faith Keza is a technology executive and now works as a product manager at Meta. She is the former CEO of Irembo, where she helped expand Rwanda's digital government services platform to provide citizens with easy access to online services.
Chantal Umutoni Kagame
Chantal Umutoni is the CEO of MTN MoMo, where she leads Rwanda’s largest fintech platform. Under her leadership, the service has grown by over 300%, becoming the backbone of the country's digital economy and a primary driver of financial inclusion.
Ornella Ndahiro
Ornella Uwase Ndahiro is a tech entrepreneur and founder of Code Empowerment Progress. She develops programs that train children and youth in coding and digital skills. Beyond technical training, she uses digital platforms to drive social impact and preserve history.
A Growing Role for Women in Technology
Across Rwanda's technology ecosystem, women are increasingly contributing to innovation, entrepreneurship, policy, and digital skills development. Their work continues to inspire the next generation of developers, founders, and innovators.
As Rwanda continues building a knowledge-based economy, the role of women in technology will remain essential in shaping the country's digital future.
Happy women's day!
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Mwiza Zamda
AuthorA technology writer at Techinika with an interest in digital innovation and emerging trends in Africa.
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