On 21st August, at the TICON Africa Conference 2025 in Ghana, Rowena Turinawe, CEO of RukaPay and Honorary Member of Women in TICON Africa, delivered the keynote speech for the Women in TICON Africa segment. Speaking on the theme of “The Flex Economy: The Role of Innovations and BPO Services”, she emphasized Africa’s readiness to lead in building digital systems that empower people and businesses alike. Her remarks positioned RukaPay as one of Uganda’s newest digital payment platforms, designed not just for convenience, but for inclusion and scale across the continent.
From Ghana to Nakawa Market: Just two days later, on 23rd August, Rowena returned home to lead RukaPay’s first-ever public activation at Nakawa Market in Kampala.At Nakawa, the rollout was deliberately grassroots. Instead of unveiling every technical detail, the team focused on community interaction and experience. “This first activation is part of RukaPay’s controlled rollout. We want to spark curiosity and connect with real people without fully unveiling everything just yet,” Mark Lukwago, RukaPay’s CFO shared.
Leadership Backed by Proven Experience: While RukaPay may be a new entrant in Uganda’s fintech landscape, its leadership is not new to shaping transformation. Rowena one of the lead authors of Uganda’s Digital Transformation Roadmap FY2023/24–2027/28, the country’s blueprint for building a people-centered digital economy. She has also driven innovation across Africa in senior roles with: MTN IT Shared Services, spanning operations across five countries, the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U), and Centenary Technology Services, a subsidiary of Centenary Group.
Her leadership has been widely recognized: ICT Young Professional of the Year (2023), one of Africa’s Top 40 Women Leaders in Fintech (2024) and among CIO Africa’s 35 Most Influential Women in Technology (2021). Beyond corporate leadership, Rowena also mentors women and the youth at an international scale through YALI and Linked Africa.
Why It Matters: The juxtaposition of Ghana and Nakawa sends a clear message: RukaPay is here to bridge worlds. It is already part of continental conversations on Africa’s future while also taking the time to earn trust at the grassroots level in Uganda.
Through its phased rollout, the company plans to continue activating in local communities, building familiarity and anticipation step by step. At the same time, RukaPay’s leadership at international platforms shows that expectations are high — and that the company is rising to meet them.
Just the Beginning: The journey from Ghana to Nakawa shows what makes RukaPay’s story compelling: it is building trust locally while shaping conversations globally.From international summits to community markets, RukaPay is laying the rails for Africa’s flex economy — ensuring that the future of work, trade, and innovation is powered by seamless, inclusive, and trusted payments.
