Thirty-five innovative projects ranging from local production of cattle salt to the manufacturing of high-quality flour from potatoes and cassava have been awarded Rwf 175 million to boost capital and expand operations. All the selected projects were founded by Rwandans who received specialized training abroad.
The funding was provided through Ongera Igishoro, a capital-boosting initiative implemented for the second time by the Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other stakeholders.
According to officials, 80% of the selected projects focus on agricultural value addition, while the rest span technology, hospitality, and tourism.
The awards were presented in Kigali on November 18, 2025, with each of the 35 entrepreneurs receiving Rwf 5 million. This followed short-term project development training offered to 100 candidates, from whom the final awardees were selected.
During the first edition in 2024, 60 trainees participated, and 33 projects were funded projects that have since created at least 100 jobs.
Creating Gluten-Free Flour from Local Crops
Among the winners is Fina Mugwaneza, who is pioneering the production of gluten-free flour by blending cassava, potatoes, and other locally sourced ingredients.
She explained that existing cassava flour on the local market lacks certain properties needed to produce flour similar to wheat-based products. “We found that by adding potatoes and other ingredients, we can produce high-quality flour with the same performance as wheat flour,” she said.
The new flour will be suitable for bread, cakes, pastries, and other products while also offering a safe alternative for people who cannot consume gluten.
Mugwaneza, trained in food processing in Russia, plans to source cassava from Kamonyi and potatoes from Musanze, emphasizing collaboration with women-led farming groups.
Producing Affordable Local Cattle Salt
Another awardee, Ingabire Rwibutso Denys Clément, trained in Israel, is set to establish Rwanda’s first locally made cattle salt brand.
He noted that nearly all cattle salt used by Rwandan farmers is imported and expensive: “A 5kg block costs around Rwf 6,500, and many farmers struggle to afford it. I want to produce 1kg packages that can sell for as little as Rwf 1,000.”
Ingabire plans to manufacture at least 3,000 blocks per month, using accessible local materials including crop residues such as maize stovers, bone meal, natural salt, inombe, and sugarcane fibers.
Advancing National Development Goals
Clément Kabiligi, Permanent Secretary at MIFOTRA, said the initiative aligns with Rwanda’s national development ambitions, emphasizing job creation and the effective use of skills acquired abroad. “These projects directly improve people’s livelihoods and ensure that the skills Rwandans gain abroad contribute to our economic development,” he said. “They also create quality jobs for young people.”
Erika De Bona Fofana, Deputy Chief of Mission at IOM Rwanda, praised the beneficiaries, stating that their success demonstrates that young Rwandans overseas are not waiting for opportunities but actively creating them.
