On February 25, 2025, Soraya Munyana Hakuziyaremye made history when she was appointed Governor and Chairperson of the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR). She became the first woman to lead the country’s central bank since its establishment in 1964. Her appointment marked a significant milestone, not just for gender representation but also for the future of Rwanda’s financial landscape.
Backed by decades of experience across international finance, government policy, and strategic risk management, Hakuziyaremye steps into the role with a forward-looking agenda and a proven track record. Before her appointment, she served as Deputy Governor, where she played a pivotal role in strengthening Rwanda’s financial architecture and promoting financial inclusion, innovation, and sustainability.
The National Bank of Rwanda, headquartered in Kigali, maintains monetary policy, financial stability, and currency issuance. Over the last three decades, the institution has been at the heart of Rwanda’s economic resurgence, and Hakuziyaremye’s leadership promises to continue that momentum.
During her tenure as Deputy Governor, she championed several transformative initiatives. In October 2022, under her guidance, the NBR joined the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), signalling Rwanda’s commitment to addressing climate-related risks in finance. She also spearheaded the development of Rwanda’s Sustainable Finance Roadmap, a blueprint that encourages green lending, bolsters ESG risk management, and defines investment frameworks through a national green taxonomy.
Her vision for inclusive finance has been equally groundbreaking. Hakuziyaremye pushed for gender-disaggregated data collection to inform evidence-based policymaking, and her advocacy led to a rise in the number of women leading financial institutions in Rwanda, from just one to five out of fifteen banks by 2023.
In parallel, she oversaw feasibility studies on launching a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to promote financial access for underserved populations, including those in remote communities. These efforts reflect her belief in technology as a tool for equitable economic development.
The results of this strategic leadership are already visible. According to All Times Africa, Rwanda’s financial sector recorded an 18.3% growth in the 2022/2023 fiscal year, with total assets increasing from Rwf8.1 trillion (about $5.74 billion) to over Rwf9.6 trillion (about $6.8 billion). Within the banking sector alone, total assets grew by 18.1% year-on-year.
In her first interview as Governor with The New Times on February 27, 2025, Hakuziyaremye reiterated her commitment to the central bank’s core mandate:
“As a central bank, we are charged with maintaining price stability and financial sector stability. That is the top priority, because with price and financial stability, then that’s when we start talking about economic growth. You cannot grow an economy if you don’t have macroeconomic stability.”
Her appointment symbolises more than a personal achievement—it represents the beginning of a new era for the National Bank of Rwanda. With a blend of technical expertise, bold leadership, and a commitment to inclusive, sustainable growth, Soraya Munyana Hakuziyaremye is poised to steer Rwanda’s financial sector into a resilient and globally aligned future.
