Watu sets sights on expanding flexible e-bike, smartphone financing in Rwanda

Watu is planning to deepen its investment in Rwanda by expanding financing for electric motorcycles and affordable smartphones, positioning itself as a key partner in the country's transition towards clean mobility and digital inclusion. The asset financing company, which operates across Africa and Latin America, says Rwanda's stable investment climate, predictable business environment and growing demand for affordable technology have strengthened its confidence to scale operations in the country. Speaking to The New Times in Kigali, Watu East Africa General Manager Andrii Volokha said the company was assessing new investment opportunities to make electric motorcycles more accessible while simultaneously expanding smartphone financing through a strategic partnership with Airtel Rwanda. Right now, we are considering different options, and expanding e-bikes in Rwanda is one of our strategic investments, said Volokha, who was in Kigali on July 9, 2026 to launch a partnership with Airtel Rwanda to make smartphones more accessible through flexible device financing. We believe in the Rwandan market and its potential. The stability and predictability of this market stand out across the region. Although the population is relatively small, we believe we can serve many more people here. ALSO READ: Airtel Rwanda, Watu make smartphones more accessible with new financing deal Watu entered the Rwandan market four years ago, partnering with electric mobility companies to finance motorcycles through flexible instalment plans. Since then, the company has financed more than 2,000 electric motorcycles, enabling riders to own bikes without paying the full purchase price upfront. It currently works with e-mobility firms Ampersand and Spiro, allowing customers to acquire electric motorcycles through a down payment before repaying the balance in daily, weekly or monthly instalments, with most customers completing payments within about a year. According to Volokha, the shift to electric motorcycles significantly lowers operating costs for riders by eliminating fuel expenses and reducing maintenance costs, ultimately increasing their daily earnings. Our commitment is to expand the business and serve customers in the best possible way, creating positive experiences that naturally attract more clients, he said. Market demand to guide e-mobility financing expansion Volokha said the company's future investment in electric mobility will be driven by customer preferences and market demand. If clients prefer a certain bike, we will help them acquire it and finance it. The size of our investment will depend on market demand, so we first need to understand the market's real capacity and how many bikes can be deployed, he said. He noted that Watu's financing philosophy prioritises customer success, explaining that the company works closely with clients facing repayment challenges to ensure they remain economically active. Our philosophy and systems are built around the client. If the client is on the road, they are able to repay us. If they are struggling, we first seek to understand the problem and help them find a solution, he said. My dream is to reach every rider who wants to acquire an e-bike and enable them to repay it in instalments.,” he noted. Customers already seeing impact Motorcycle taxi riders who have acquired electric motorcycles through Watu say the financing model has transformed their businesses. I switched to an electric bike with Watu's support, and I no longer spend money on fuel or deal with engine noise. It is comfortable, easy to maintain, and my daily income has also increased, said Eric Habimana, a motorcycle taxi rider in Kigali. Smartphone beneficiaries also say the initiative is helping them expand their businesses. Without the Watu and Airtel Rwanda partnership, my business would not be where it is today. Using WhatsApp to promote my products and communicate with clients has helped me reach more customers and grow my business, said Esther Niyonkuru, a Kigali resident. For Volokha Rwanda represents one of Watu's most promising long-term markets, with opportunities extending beyond mobility financing into wider digital inclusion. The momentum we have seen in Rwanda over the past two months is incredibly encouraging, he said, reacting on smartphones affordability. It gives us confidence not only in this partnership, but in the opportunity ahead. Together with Airtel and Airtel Money, we look forward to reaching more communities, enabling more people to own smartphones and helping even more Rwandans participate in the digital economy. He added that the company's ambition is to continue building partnerships that improve customers' lives while supporting Rwanda's broader goals of sustainable transport, financial inclusion and digital transformation. The launch of this partnership marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both our organisations. We look forward to growing it, reaching more communities across Rwanda and creating even more opportunities for the people we serve,” he said. Expanding digital access through easing smartphone ownership Beyond mobility, Watu is now broadening its focus to digital connectivity. To this end, it entered a new partnership with Airtel Rwanda aimed at making smartphones more affordable for thousands of Rwandans. The partnership combines Watu's financing expertise with Airtel Rwanda's telecommunications network and Airtel Money platform, allowing customers to purchase selected Samsung smartphones through affordable instalment plans while receiving bundled data, voice and SMS packages. Under the initiative, customers purchasing eligible Samsung smartphones receive 15GB of welcome data alongside monthly packages comprising 45GB of internet, unlimited calls and SMS to all networks for Rwf3,000, payable via Airtel Money. According to the signatories, more than 2,000 customers have already acquired smartphones through the programme during its first two months, with thousands more expected to benefit as the rollout expands nationwide. Speaking during the launch of the partnership, Volokha said financing creates meaningful impact only when it is designed around customers' everyday lives. Over the years, we've learned a simple lesson: financing alone isn't enough, he said. For financing to create real impact, it has to be easy to access, simple to manage and designed around the way people already live their lives. That idea has shaped how we have built every product at Watu, and it is the thinking behind the partnership we are celebrating today. He said the collaboration reflects Watu's strategy of working with strong local partners to simplify access to productive assets. Across East Africa, we have seen how combining asset financing with strong local partnerships helps us reach more people and remove barriers to ownership, he said. As we have expanded into new markets and introduced new products, one thing has remained constant: the strongest partnerships are the ones that make life simpler for the customer. That is exactly what we are building here in Rwanda. Airtel Rwanda Managing Director Sujay Chakrabarti said the partnership supports the company's mission of expanding digital inclusion by removing affordability barriers. We recognise that while smartphones have become essential tools for education, business, financial inclusion and communication, affordability remains a barrier for many people, he said. Through our partnership with Watu, we are removing that barrier by enabling customers to own quality smartphones through convenient financing while enjoying the power of Airtel's network and value-packed data offers.

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Watu sets sights on expanding flexible e-bike, smartphone financing in Rwanda