My name is Yvette Uwimpaye and I am the founder of Murukali.
I did Economics in my undergraduates, which opened my mind to the growth of Rwanda economy through E-commerce.
The idea came to me first, when an unfamiliar incident happened at home. I was with my new-born baby at home and expecting the house girl to bring food for my baby, and to my surprise the house girl had run away without informing me. I was completely frustrated since my baby was hungry, and there was no one else at home to help me. I definitely couldn’t leave my baby at home, and also taking him out in the cold of the night was not a good idea. While struggling to find a solution, It struck me that,I started searching on internet where I can buy groceries without moving around, I definitely find nowhere. There was no online grocery store in Rwanda. I then thought of the many countless people who surprisingly find themselves in the same position of helplessness like sick people, new residents, VIPs etc..I then realized that this was another loophole in the Rwandan market. I decided to take up this responsibility. At first, I put a website online with all the groceries an average house would need. On it’s first day of being launched, one client called for different groceries. I was surprised at how quick my first transaction was. In my first months I was faced with a lot of criticism. Some calling me a fraudster and others saying it wouldn’t go far. However, time has proved that this was a service that was needed by many and our business has been expanding since then. In a period of 5 years we have managed to increase our staff and create a stable client base. From a one-day period of time for delivery to just 3-hours maximum delivery period. We have seen tremendous improvement, and in the process we are giving local sellers the opportunity to trade with online buyers. From a young mother who couldn’t get food for her baby, to an entrepreneur that is empowering and helping other mothers shop for their families. ...