The headline
The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) raised the Central Bank Rate by 50 basis points, from 6.75% to 7.25%, on 19 February 2026. It was the first increase of the year.
Governor Soraya Hakuziyaremye called it "a measured step we are taking to bring inflation back within the target band between 2 per cent and 8 per cent."
Why
- Inflation was 5.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024, 7.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 8.9% in January 2026.
- The bank expected inflation to stay above the 8% ceiling for the first half of 2026.
- It named lower farm output, sustained energy costs and global tensions that keep import prices high as the main risks.
What came next
It was not the last increase. The bank raised the rate again in May, to 8.25%, and in August, to 8.75% (our story on the August decision).
What it means for property
Banks price loans from the central bank rate, so a higher rate feeds through to mortgage and construction loan rates over the following months. See what a monthly repayment looks like at today's market lending rate with the mortgage calculator.