Complete guide

How to find software developers in Kigali

Kigali
March 1, 2023
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Kigali is the capital and largest city of Rwanda, located in the center of the country. It is a bustling, modern city with a population of over one million people. Kigali is a clean, orderly city full of green spaces and parks, and it is known as one of the safest cities in Africa. The city is also an important economic center, with a large number of international businesses and organizations. Kigali is home to many cultural attractions, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Kigali Museum, which tell the story of Rwanda’s tragic and inspirational history. Kigali is also a great place to find software developers. But software engineers in Kigali are also hard to find and hard to hire. Experienced developers get a lot of messages from recruiters, in some cases five or ten messages per day. To find engineers in Kigali you have to search for engineers in different sources, reach out based on their preferred contact details, personalize your outreach and make an attractive offer. In this guide you'll learn more about the tech ecosystem in Kigali, which methods to use to find developers and how to hire them.

Why Kigali is a good place to find developers

Developer statistics in Kigali

The statistics on tech talent in Kigali are quite impressive. The city boasts a large and growing population of tech professionals, including software developers, data scientists, and IT professionals. Over the last five years, there has been an average of 11% growth in the number of tech jobs in Kigali. The city also has a vibrant startup ecosystem and is a hotbed of innovation, with numerous venture capital investments and the highest number of tech incubators in the region. This vibrant tech talent pool has attracted the attention of many global tech giants, leading to the establishment of offices in the city.

The tech ecosystem in Kigali

The tech ecosystem in Kigali is rapidly growing and vibrant, with a wide variety of startups, accelerators, incubators, venture capitalists, and other stakeholders. Kigali is the home of KLab, the first tech hub in East Africa, as well as several other tech hubs such as the Kigali Innovation City and mHub. There are a number of accelerators and incubators such as Yego, K-Start and AfriLabs that are helping to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the city. Kigali is also home to several venture capital firms, such as Kora Ventures, Seven Seas Ventures and Endeavor Catalyst. Additionally, there is a strong and growing community of developers and tech professionals who are building world-class products in the city.

Best tech meetups in Kigali

Attending local meetups is a great way of getting introduced  to technical talent and getting a better feel for what software developers care about.
These are the best local meetups:

1. Kigali Tech Meetup
2. Rwanda Tech Community
3. Women In Tech Rwanda
4. Kigali Python User Group
5. Kigali Machine Learning Meetup
6. Kigali Data Science Meetup
7. Kigali Cloud Computing Club
8. Kigali DevOps Meetup
9. Kigali Artificial Intelligence Meetup
10. Kigali Digital Entrepreneurs Meetup

Best methods to source and recruit talent in Kigali

There are many different ways to find and hire developers, some examples are:



1. Use job boards and recruitment websites: Job boards and recruitment websites are a great way to source software development talent in Kigali. Popular job boards and recruitment websites include LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and Monster.

2. Reach out to coding schools and universities: Kigali is home to a variety of coding schools and universities that offer software development courses. Reaching out to these schools and universities can be a great way to find qualified software developers.

3. Leverage professional networks: Leveraging professional networks like LinkedIn and local meetup groups can be a great way to find software development talent in Kigali.

4. Utilize online freelancing platforms: Online freelancing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr are a great way to find and hire freelance software developers in Kigali.

5. Use referral programs: Referral programs are a great way to source software development talent and are becoming increasingly popular in Kigali. Companies can offer incentives to their existing employees to refer qualified software developers.

These are currently the best methods to find and hire developers:

Search LinkedIn, GitHub and Stack Overflow and reach out

The best way to find developer talent in Kigali is to find them in the places where they have an online profile and are active. Examples of those platforms are GitHub and Stack Overflow. LinkedIn can also be a valuable source.

Talent search engines can help you find developers online through a variety of sources. Most talent search engines also provide verified contact details so you can reach out to the talent you have found. In some cases these engines even automate a big part of the outreach process so you can reach hundreds of candidates per day.

An example of a talent search and engagement engine is HeroHunt.ai which can find 1 billion candidates worldwide and lets you reach out automatically with personalized messages.

Best job boards to find developers in Kigali

An alternative way to attract development talent is to post a job on a (local) job board.

These are the best local job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Facebook
3. Indeed
4. Jobberman
5. Glassdoor
6. KigaliHire
7. KigaliJobs
8. JobNet
9. KigaliRwandaJobs
10. KigaliJobBoard

Best remote job boards to find developers in Kigali

If you are sourcing for remote talent then you can utilize remote specific job boards where you can post your remote job.

These are the best remote job boards to post your developer job on:

1. LinkedIn
2. Upwork
3. FlexJobs
4. Indeed
5. Workana
6. Kigali Jobs
7. Freelancer
8. Guru
9. Toptal
10. Fiverr

How to hire software developers from any place without a local office

When you’re hiring software developers you need to be aware of the local average salaries in order to provide a competitive job offer. Below are the average salaries for software developers per experience level.

Average local salaries

Average salary for a junior software developer in Kigali

The average salary for a junior developer in Kigali, Rwanda is approximately $25,000 per year. This salary range typically includes base salary, performance bonuses, and other incentives. Junior developers work on software development projects, help maintain existing systems, and may assist with bug fixes, system maintenance, and other tasks. They are typically supervised by more experienced developers and may receive guidance from senior-level developers. Junior developers in Kigali may also receive on-the-job training, career advancement opportunities, and other benefits.

Average salary for a senior software developer in Kigali

The average salary for a senior developer in Kigali is $2,925 per month. This figure includes a base salary ranging from $2,400 to $3,500, depending on experience and qualifications, as well as any additional bonuses and benefits that may be offered. Senior developers in Kigali are typically expected to have at least five years of experience in software development, and often hold certifications in one or more programming languages. They are expected to be able to design and develop complex software solutions, as well as mentor and lead junior developers.

Employing software developers (remotely)

Maybe your company doesn't have an office (yet) in Kigali. But that doesn't mean you can't hire employees in Kigali. There are several options like EORs which can help employ developers legally according to the regulations in Kigali.



An Employer of Record (EOR) is a service provider that manages the hiring, payroll, and compliance of employees on behalf of a company. This type of service is often used by companies that do not have an established presence in a particular country or region. If you are a company looking to hire employees in Kigali, Rwanda, you can use an EOR to streamline the process.

1. Find an EOR: The first step is to find an EOR that provides services in Kigali. Look for an experienced EOR with a good reputation and a track record of success in the region.

2. Understand Your Obligations: Once you have chosen an EOR, it is important to understand your obligations as an employer. This includes understanding the legal requirements of hiring and managing employees in Kigali, as well as the related payroll and tax obligations.

3. Draft a Service Agreement: Once you have an understanding of your obligations, you can draft a service agreement with the EOR. This should outline the roles and responsibilities of each party, including the payment structure and any termination or dispute resolution clauses.

4. Hire the Employees: After the service agreement has been signed, the EOR will then handle the hiring process for you. This includes posting job listings, screening and interviewing candidates, and onboarding new employees.

5. Manage the Employees: The EOR will also manage the day-to-day operations of the employees, including payroll, benefits, and compliance with local labor laws.

Using an EOR in Kigali is a great way to simplify the process of hiring and managing employees in a foreign country. By partnering with an experienced EOR, you can save time and money while ensuring that all of your obligations are met.

Use a platform to find and hire the best developers:
Best platforms to employ developers worldwide

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