For almost a decade after beginning his authorized profession in 2010, Moise Nkundabarashi diligently saved for the longer term, believing that setting apart a part of his revenue every month would safe his household's monetary wellbeing.
“The character of the financial system we dwell in right this moment doesn’t permit us to eat all the pieces we earn. Day-after-day we get older, and retirement is inevitable,” he mentioned.
However after years of saving, Nkundabarashi, a lawyer at Belief Regulation Chambers and President of the Rwanda Bar Affiliation (RBA), realised that maintaining cash in a checking account was not sufficient.
“I spent a few years saving with out investing. That meant my cash was sitting idle as a substitute of producing extra revenue,” he informed The New Instances.
From saving to investing
About 4 years in the past, Nkundabarashi learnt concerning the RNIT Iterambere Fund, a collective funding scheme managed by the Rwanda Nationwide Funding Belief (RNIT).
After finishing up due diligence, he determined to speculate.
“The very first thing we did was conduct due diligence on RNIT and what it provides,” he mentioned.
Since then, he has constantly reinvested all his returns as a substitute of withdrawing them.
“The cash I invested continues to earn returns, and each curiosity cost is reinvested. I’ve by no means withdrawn a single franc as a result of I’ve a long-term imaginative and prescient. I’m looking forward to retirement,” he mentioned.
He declined to reveal the scale of his funding, saying it’s a non-public matter shared together with his spouse.
His key lesson is easy: saving ought to go hand in hand with investing.
“In case you get monetary savings and depart it in a dormant account, inflation will regularly erode its worth. Your cash needs to be working for you.”
Encouraging others
Satisfied of the advantages, Nkundabarashi inspired fellow attorneys, pals and family to spend money on the fund.
As curiosity grew, the Rwanda Bar Affiliation determined to speculate a part of its annual membership subscriptions to strengthen its monetary place.
“Every year, we approve a funds and put aside a part of our membership contributions as a result of we need to construct the affiliation's monetary capability,” he mentioned.
At present, the affiliation has invested about Rwf1.3 billion by means of the RNIT Iterambere Fund. In keeping with Nkundabarashi, the funding has generated between Rwf250 million and Rwf300 million in compound returns, that are exempt from company revenue tax.
Relatively than cashing out, the affiliation reinvests all earnings, permitting compound curiosity to proceed rising the fund.
“Our aim is to turn into financially self-sustaining so we are able to finance each our operations and help our members utilizing our personal sources, whereas additionally contributing to the nation's financial system by means of investments,” he mentioned.
The affiliation can be exploring different long-term investments, together with establishing a Attorneys' Financial savings and Credit score Cooperative (SACCO), investing in actual property and, ultimately, establishing a financial institution.
Self-discipline is essential
Nkundabarashi believes the largest impediment to saving and investing just isn’t revenue, however mindset.
“Most individuals say what they earn just isn’t sufficient to cowl their bills. That may solely change by means of self-discipline. It’s the solely method out,” he mentioned.
He argued that monetary independence requires constant saving, disciplined investing and a long-term outlook.
“You can not declare to be impartial in case you are not financially impartial. Monetary independence is about taking management of your life.”
RNIT marks a decade of development
Nkundabarashi's expertise mirrors the expansion of the RNIT Iterambere Fund over the previous decade.
Launched in 2016 as Rwanda's first collective funding scheme, the fund has grown into one of many nation's main funding automobiles, pushed by rising public confidence in collective investments and capital markets.
Its belongings beneath administration have elevated from Rwf1 billion at launch to Rwf86 billion as of July 12, 2026, when it celebrated its tenth anniversary.
The fund now has about 90,000 funding accounts, representing greater than 350,000 unit holders, together with college students, younger professionals, salaried workers, cooperatives, small companies, households and institutional buyers.
RNIT says it goals to triple its investor base over the subsequent decade. The fund has delivered annualised returns of greater than 11 per cent, whereas its Internet Asset Worth (NAV) per unit has risen from Rwf100 in 2016 to Rwf274 in 2026, reflecting sustained development in investor wealth.
