Watu is planning to deepen its funding in Rwanda by increasing financing for electrical bikes and inexpensive smartphones, positioning itself as a key companion within the nation's transition in direction of clear mobility and digital inclusion.
The asset financing firm, which operates throughout Africa and Latin America, says Rwanda's steady funding local weather, predictable enterprise surroundings and rising demand for inexpensive expertise have strengthened its confidence to scale operations within the nation.
Chatting with The New Instances in Kigali, Watu East Africa Basic Supervisor Andrii Volokha stated the corporate was assessing new funding alternatives to make electrical bikes extra accessible whereas concurrently increasing smartphone financing via a strategic partnership with Airtel Rwanda.
“Proper now, we’re contemplating completely different choices, and increasing e-bikes in Rwanda is certainly one of our strategic investments,” Volokha who was in Kigali, on July, 9, 2026 to launch a partnership with Airtel Rwanda to make smartphones extra accessible via versatile system financing.
“We consider within the Rwandan market and its potential. The soundness and predictability of this market stand out throughout the area. Though the inhabitants is comparatively small, we consider we are able to serve many extra folks right here.”
ALSO READ: Airtel Rwanda, Watu make smartphones extra accessible with new financing deal
Watu entered the Rwandan market 4 years in the past, partnering with electrical mobility corporations to finance bikes via versatile instalment plans.
Since then, the corporate has financed greater than 2,000 electrical bikes, enabling riders to personal bikes with out paying the total buy value upfront.
It at the moment works with e-mobility companies Ampersand and Spiro, permitting prospects to amass electrical bikes via a down fee earlier than repaying the stability in every day, weekly or month-to-month instalments, with most prospects finishing funds inside a couple of yr.
In keeping with Volokha, the shift to electrical bikes considerably lowers working prices for riders by eliminating gasoline bills and lowering upkeep prices, in the end growing their every day earnings.
“Our dedication is to develop the enterprise and serve prospects in the very best approach, creating optimistic experiences that naturally appeal to extra purchasers,” he stated.
Market demand to information e-mobility financing enlargement
Volokha stated the corporate's future funding in electrical mobility will probably be pushed by buyer preferences and market demand.
“If purchasers desire a sure bike, we are going to assist them purchase it and finance it. The scale of our funding will rely upon market demand, so we first want to grasp the market's actual capability and what number of bikes could be deployed,” he stated.
He famous that Watu's financing philosophy prioritises buyer success, explaining that the corporate works carefully with purchasers dealing with reimbursement challenges to make sure they continue to be economically energetic.
“Our philosophy and programs are constructed across the shopper. If the shopper is on the street, they’re able to repay us. If they’re struggling, we first search to grasp the issue and assist them discover a resolution,” he stated.
“My dream is to achieve each rider who needs to amass an e-bike and allow them to repay it in instalments.,” he famous.
Prospects already seeing affect
Motorbike taxi riders who’ve acquired electrical bikes via Watu say the financing mannequin has reworked their companies.
“I switched to an electrical bike with Watu's help, and I not spend cash on gasoline or cope with engine noise. It’s snug, simple to take care of, and my every day revenue has additionally elevated,” stated Eric Habimana, a motorbike taxi rider in Kigali.
Smartphone beneficiaries additionally say the initiative helps them develop their companies.
“With out the Watu and Airtel Rwanda partnership, my enterprise wouldn’t be the place it’s at present. Utilizing WhatsApp to advertise my merchandise and talk with purchasers has helped me attain extra prospects and develop my enterprise,” stated Esther Niyonkuru, a Kigali resident.
For Volokha Rwanda represents certainly one of Watu's most promising long-term markets, with alternatives extending past mobility financing into wider digital inclusion.
“The momentum we’ve got seen in Rwanda over the previous two months is extremely encouraging,” he stated, reacting on smartphones affordability.
“It offers us confidence not solely on this partnership, however within the alternative forward. Along with Airtel and Airtel Cash, we look ahead to reaching extra communities, enabling extra folks to personal smartphones and serving to much more Rwandans take part within the digital financial system.”
He added that the corporate's ambition is to proceed constructing partnerships that enhance prospects' lives whereas supporting Rwanda's broader objectives of sustainable transport, monetary inclusion and digital transformation.
“The launch of this partnership marks the start of an thrilling new chapter for each our organisations. We look ahead to rising it, reaching extra communities throughout Rwanda and creating much more alternatives for the folks we serve,” he stated.
Increasing digital entry via easing smartphone possession
Past mobility, Watu is now broadening its focus to digital connectivity. To this finish, it entered a brand new partnership with Airtel Rwanda geared toward making smartphones extra inexpensive for hundreds of Rwandans.
The partnership combines Watu's financing experience with Airtel Rwanda's telecommunications community and Airtel Cash platform, permitting prospects to buy chosen Samsung smartphones via inexpensive instalment plans whereas receiving bundled information, voice and SMS packages.
Underneath the initiative, prospects buying eligible Samsung smartphones obtain 15GB of welcome information alongside month-to-month packages comprising 45GB of web, limitless calls and SMS to all networks for Rwf3,000, payable by way of Airtel Cash.
In keeping with the signatories, greater than 2,000 prospects have already acquired smartphones via the programme throughout its first two months, with hundreds extra anticipated to learn because the rollout expands nationwide.
Talking through the launch of the partnership, Volokha stated financing creates significant affect solely when it’s designed round prospects' on a regular basis lives.
“Through the years, we've realized a easy lesson: financing alone isn't sufficient,” he stated.
“For financing to create actual affect, it must be simple to entry, easy to handle and designed round the way in which folks already stay their lives. That concept has formed how we’ve got constructed each product at Watu, and it’s the considering behind the partnership we’re celebrating at present.”
He stated the collaboration displays Watu's technique of working with sturdy native companions to simplify entry to productive belongings.
“Throughout East Africa, we’ve got seen how combining asset financing with sturdy native partnerships helps us attain extra folks and take away boundaries to possession,” he stated.
“As we’ve got expanded into new markets and launched new merchandise, one factor has remained fixed: the strongest partnerships are those that make life less complicated for the shopper. That’s precisely what we’re constructing right here in Rwanda.”
Airtel Rwanda Managing Director Sujay Chakrabarti stated the partnership helps the corporate's mission of increasing digital inclusion by eradicating affordability boundaries.
“We recognise that whereas smartphones have turn out to be important instruments for schooling, enterprise, monetary inclusion and communication, affordability stays a barrier for many individuals,” he stated.
“Via our partnership with Watu, we’re eradicating that barrier by enabling prospects to personal high quality smartphones via handy financing whereas having fun with the ability of Airtel's community and value-packed information presents.”
