A story that captured the attention of many involved a Rwandan man living in Europe who, in 2016, travelled to Kigali to buy a house in Nyarutarama. He had been assured by a friend that a local construction company could provide a fully built home, and he brought with him 80 million Rwandan francs to make the purchase.
However, the excitement of finally owning a home in his homeland quickly turned into disappointment. Soon after moving in with his family during the holidays, he discovered multiple construction flaws: poorly installed tiles, faulty plumbing, electrical issues, and other structural problems. Attempts to resolve the issues with the company were unsuccessful, leaving him facing a significant financial loss.
His story is not unique; several other diaspora Rwandans have reported being misled, defrauded, or left powerless due to the difficulty of monitoring construction from abroad.
In response to these challenges, a new digital platform dubbed StoneForge has been launched. It aims to provide Rwandans in the diaspora with a way to supervise their construction projects remotely, ensuring full transparency and control over their investments.
According to Eng. Daniel Nzasabamungu, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, StoneForge was developed in direct response to frequent complaints from diaspora members struggling with unreliable site managers, limited oversight, and a lack of accountability for their investments. The platform is designed to bridge this gap, giving users real-time updates and greater confidence as their projects progress.
'StoneForge was born from a clear need â€" helping busy Rwandans, especially in the diaspora, supervise their construction projects remotely with full transparency and control,' said Eng. Daniel Nzasabamungu, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder.
'Our platform brings everything into one centralised dashboard: daily updates, material tracking, costs, reports â€" all automated. It's peace of mind, built into technology.'
Through its web-based system, which went live in May this year, StoneForge provides real-time project updates, daily site reports, financial tracking, and even live camera feeds from construction sites. Site supervisors upload progress photos, track inventory, and flag issues, allowing project owners to follow every step without having to make constant phone calls or travel back home.
According to the founders, what sets StoneForge apart is its all-in-one approach. While other apps scatter budgeting, planning, and updates across multiple tools, StoneForge brings them together with live visuals and automated reporting, giving owners a clear picture of their project from start to finish.
For clients like Egide Nsabimana, who is building an apartment project in Kagarama, Kicukiro, the platform has already made a difference.
'With StoneForge, I don't need to call my site manager every day or worry about what's happening on site. From wherever I am, I can see what's being done, how much it costs, and even view progress with live feed of the site and reports in real time. It's like being on site, without actually being there,' he said.
StoneForge is initially targeting Rwandans in the diaspora, but the founders say it could also benefit busy professionals and organisations managing multiple construction projects locally.
By digitising supervision and providing transparency, the platform aims to restore trust in a process that for years has left many feeling anxious and vulnerable.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
