Savings mobilized through the RNIT Iterambere Fund have increased nearly 150-fold over the past decade, growing from Rwf1 billion in 2016 to Rwf149.95 billion in 2026, reflecting growing public confidence in Rwanda’s flagship collective investment fund.
The milestone was announced as the fund’s management presented its 10-year performance, highlighting significant growth in both assets and the number of investors despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
RNIT Iterambere Fund Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Sebagabo Gatera said the fund struggled to attract investors in its early years because many Rwandans were unfamiliar with collective investment schemes. However, participation has steadily increased as awareness of the benefits of saving and investing has grown.
He noted that the fund experienced its first major breakthrough in 2019, when it attracted 5,000 investors and mobilized Rwf3 billion in savings. Although growth slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, investor confidence has since recovered, resulting in strong expansion this year.
Since becoming operational, the fund has mobilized a cumulative Rwf149.95 billion. However, its current assets under management stand at approximately Rwf86 billion, as investors are free to withdraw their savings whenever they choose.
Despite the progress, Gatera emphasized that Rwanda still has a long way to go in building a strong savings culture.
The fund currently has about 90,000 account holders, including individuals and savings groups. Because many accounts belong to cooperatives and community savings groups, the investments benefit more than 360,000 people in total.
He added that national savings remain below the level needed to support stronger economic growth.
“Rwanda’s savings amount to less than 15% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, yet the target should be around 30%,” Gatera said.
He explained that RNIT Iterambere Fund allows investors to deposit and withdraw their money at any time while continuing to earn competitive returns.
The fund currently offers an annual return of 11.12%.
Established by the Government of Rwanda in 2014 and fully operational since 2016, RNIT Iterambere Fund was created to promote a culture of saving and investment among Rwandans. The fund is designed to be inclusive, allowing individuals to start investing with as little as Rwf2,000, making formal investment accessible to citizens across different income levels while enabling them to grow their wealth over time.
