In Kigali, Rwanda’s bustling capital, motari motorbike taxi riders are everywhere. For most people, it is simply a low-income job, often overlooked and undervalued. But for Sadi Bizumuremyi, 26, riding a motorbike became more than a way to make ends meet. It became a story of mindset shift, resilience, and the power of seeing opportunity where others see limitation.
A Great-Grandmother’s Vision
Sadi grew up in Rwanda’s Southern Province, raised by his great-grandmother. Despite living in a generation where education was not easily accessible, she pushed him to learn, expand his knowledge, and embrace vision. “Education is not just about books,” Sadi recalls her lessons, “it is about seeing where a generation is going and creating a path for a better future.”
This early influence planted in him two guiding principles that would shape his life:
- Work must bring financial stability otherwise, what is the point of working without progress?
- Work must offer freedom and respect because true fulfillment cannot exist in an environment that stifles you.
And above all, he insists: “You must love what you do.”
Searching for His Path
Before moving to Kigali in 2021, Sad spent five years teaching. In Kigali, he tried selling goods and later became a private chauffeur. But whenever something was not working, he leaned on a principle often repeated by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame: “You are not a prisoner of something that isn’t working-change.”
For Sadi, the test was simple: if a job did not pay his bills or allow him to save, it was not worth clinging to.
The Leap Into Motari Life
Eventually, Sadi turned to the skill he already had, a driving license. Buying a car was too expensive, but a motorbike was within reach. With help from two friends who believed in him, he bought his first bike. At first, he rode only at night while continuing his chauffeur job during the day.
Those two months of side hustling changed everything. He gained confidence, saw real income, and realized that his fear of working for himself could only be overcome by action.
Finally, Sadi quit to become a full-time motari. But it was not easy. The job was undervalued. He was ashamed. For a while, he wore a mask in the daytime, hoping no one would recognize him. Even friends questioned his choice: “Why would you choose to be a taxi moto rider of all jobs?”
But Sadi understood something they didn’t: mindset is everything.
Turning a Bike into a Brand
Instead of hiding, he began posting openly on WhatsApp to his 600 contacts: offering transport, parcel delivery, and reliable rides. To his surprise, people responded positively.
Soon, Nigerian friends encouraged him to expand to social media so foreigners could easily find him. For many visitors in Kigali, navigating transport is a challenge, but Sadi spoke English and understood their needs. He began positioning himself not just as a rider but as a local guide, offering city tours, cultural experiences, and personalized rides for tourists.
What started as shame turned into a unique brand. His colleagues were inspired. Young people admired his creativity. Foreigners appreciated his openness. Sadi had transformed his work into an entrepreneurial journey.
Lessons from the Road
Through this journey, Sadi has become an advocate for dignity in work. “Not everyone can be a minister or a doctor,” he says. “But every role is important. The doctor performing surgery is only able to reach the hospital because a motari brought him there. The teacher reaches students because we take them to school.”
He also believes that social media is today’s marketplace. Just like traders bring their goods to a physical market, entrepreneurs must bring their products, services, and skills to online platforms to be seen.
And when asked about competition? He smiles. “Competition is good. It pushes you to grow. But when you are authentic, you do not really have competition. No one can do what I do, because I am just Sadi.”
Seeing Rwanda Through New Eyes
His work has also reshaped how he sees Rwanda. By serving foreigners, he began to view his country through their eyes, beautiful, safe, and full of opportunity. While learning French and Turkish, he even traveled to Turkey, only to realize he couldn’t wait to return home.
“It pains me to see young people desperate to leave,” he reflects. “Happiness doesn’t come from another country. It starts within you.”
Mindset as the Real Vehicle
Sadi’s journey is proof that success does not come from the “status” of a job, but from the mindset you bring to it. Once he stopped undervaluing himself and embraced his work with pride, everything shifted: income, opportunities, and impact.
His story challenges us all to rethink how we see ourselves, our jobs, and the possibilities around us. Entrepreneurship is not about fancy titles; it is about creativity, resilience, and the courage to think differently.
As Sadi’s motorbike continues to weave through Kigali’s streets, it carries more than passengers. It carries a powerful message: with the right mindset, any path can become a road to empowerment.
🙌🏾 wow!