Tracking rent payments, managing lease agreements, maintaining properties, and communicating with tenants often require either a physical presence or the support of a trusted third party.
To address these challenges, Aristide Shema, a young Rwandan entrepreneur based in Wrocław, Poland, developed DomLift, a digital platform that enables property owners to manage their real estate from anywhere in the world.
In an interview with IGIHE, he discusses his background, the inspiration behind the platform, and his vision for the digital transformation of Rwanda’s real estate sector.
IGIHE: Could you briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your academic and professional background?
Shema: My name is Aristide Shema. I was born in Gisozi, Kigali. Even after leaving Rwanda to pursue my studies and career abroad, I have always remained deeply connected to my country. That attachment has inspired me to stay engaged with Rwanda’s challenges and to think about how I could contribute to its development, even while living thousands of kilometers away.
I studied International Business with a specialization in technology at WSHiU – Academy of Applied Sciences in Poznań, Poland. Today, I work as an IT Support Engineer at Hemmersbach on the Thales Alenia Space project, while based in Wrocław.
This experience has allowed me to combine business management skills with technology expertise, a combination that proved invaluable in building DomLift.
IGIHE: How did the idea for DomLift come about?
Shema: Several factors inspired this project. First, President Paul Kagame’s consistent call for young Rwandans to embrace innovation and develop solutions that address the country’s challenges has always inspired me.
At the same time, I became interested in the real estate sector. The figures speak for themselves: Rwanda currently faces a housing deficit of more than 200,000 units, a number projected to reach nearly 310,000 by 2032. I realized there was a genuine need to modernize property management.
I have always been passionate about real estate. However, I did not have the financial resources to invest in property myself. So I told myself that if I could not contribute as an investor, I could still contribute by building a technological solution that supports those who already invest in the sector.
IGIHE: How did you turn that idea into a working platform?
Shema: I trained myself in software development through online courses for more than nine months. After that, I designed and developed DomLift entirely on my own, from the very first line of code to the platform’s launch.
For me, it was a way to contribute to the development of Rwanda’s real estate sector without having investment capital. I wanted to create a tool that genuinely makes life easier for landlords, property managers, and tenants.
IGIHE: Who are the people working with you to make this possible?
Shema: I am fortunate to have my co-founder, Landry Rudasingwa, by my side. He is originally from Nyakabanda and holds a degree in Hydraulic Engineering earned in China. He is currently pursuing a degree in International Business in Poznań, Poland.
He also works as an Integration Engineer at Jitterbit while serving as DomLift’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO). His technical expertise plays a vital role in the continued development of our platform.
IGIHE: How does DomLift work in practice?
Shema: DomLift operates through two connected portals: one for landlords and property managers, and another for tenants.
Everything starts with onboarding. Property owners register their properties and individual units, then assign tenants to each unit. From that point onward, every piece of information related to that property is stored in one centralized place.
Rent can be paid through MTN Mobile Money, Airtel Money, bank transfers, or even cash. Regardless of the payment method, every transaction is automatically recorded, allowing landlords to instantly see who has paid without having to reconcile payments manually.
When maintenance is needed, tenants submit repair requests directly through their portal. The landlord receives a notification, assigns the work, and tracks the request until it is completed.
We have also integrated an internal messaging system that allows landlords and tenants to communicate directly within the platform, eliminating the need for scattered WhatsApp conversations.
One of the features we are particularly proud of is the property inspection system. Landlords can carry out detailed inspections using photographs, notes, checklists, and electronic signatures, creating a reliable record of each property’s condition over time.
This feature becomes especially valuable when an owner wants to sell a property, increase its rental value, or apply for bank financing.
DomLift also generates financial reports that help landlords analyze the performance of their property portfolio. We are currently developing even more detailed reports for each individual unit so owners can track income, expenses, and occupancy history separately.
Our goal is to provide a solution that works equally well for an individual managing a few rental units as it does for a company managing hundreds of properties.
IGIHE: How long has DomLift been available?
Shema: The platform has been publicly available for just over two months. Despite being relatively new, we are already seeing encouraging growth, with between 60 and 150 active users. Our goal is to continue expanding this community and support even more property owners in managing their real estate.
IGIHE: On which platforms is DomLift available?
Shema: DomLift is available on the web as well as through native Android, iPhone, and iPad applications. Users can download it free of charge from Google Play and the App Store. Automatic updates ensure that everyone always has access to the latest features and improvements.
The idea is simple: to allow someone to manage their property portfolio from Kigali, Brussels, London, Toronto, or anywhere else in the world directly from a smartphone or computer.
IGIHE: What is your vision for the coming years?
Shema: Our ambition is for every landlord and property manager to have access to a professional property management system.
We want to go beyond simple rent collection. By providing reliable data, the platform helps property owners analyze their investments, prepare bank financing applications, and make informed decisions when expanding their portfolios.
We also aim to serve professional property management companies. In the long term, our ambition is to expand DomLift across the East African Community after strengthening our presence in Rwanda.
IGIHE: What message would you like to share with Rwandans, especially those living abroad?
Shema: I want to tell Rwandans that technology offers an incredible opportunity to contribute to the development of our country, wherever we may live.
DomLift was born from that belief. We want to provide a modern, reliable, and accessible solution that simplifies property management while helping owners make better investment decisions through accurate data.
Our ambition is to build a platform that will support real estate investors not only in Rwanda but eventually across East Africa.
Karirima@igihe.com
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