The Journey of Diane Mukasahaha and DIKAM Ltd
Many people spend years studying a single path, only to discover their true calling lies elsewhere. Skills learned in classrooms and textbooks can open doors, but it is curiosity, courage, and persistence that determine where life ultimately leads. The journey to meaningful work is rarely straight. It often weaves through unexpected challenges, requires learning new skills, and sometimes calls for creating opportunities where none existed before.
Diane Mukasahaha, the founder of DIKAM Ltd, did not imagine the hum of industrial sewing machines, the bustling factory floor or the network of women, and young people whose lives would be transformed by her enterprise. She started with a modest home workshop and a pedal sewing machine, navigating the overwhelming responsibility of building a business while caring for her young family. Today, DIKAM is a thriving textile company, known for quality garments proudly marked Made in Rwanda, and a beacon of hope for women who aspire to financial independence.
From Public Health to Entrepreneurship
Mukasahaha’s journey into entrepreneurship was neither simple nor linear. She recalls the early days with a mixture of nostalgia and humility. “Before DIKAM, life was extremely hard. I had to juggle family responsibilities, and a desire to create something meaningful,” she says. She trained in Nursing and Public Health – specialising in palliative care, and spent 16 years working with the Ministry of Health, USAID, and other institutions. As National Coordinator of Palliative Care, she advocated tirelessly for access to pain medication and holistic care.
“But I found myself in a position where, like advocating for budgets in many African countries, the resources for palliative care were minimal. Most funding came from donations,” she explains. Her pivot to textiles was born from this frustration, and a vision to create more systemic impact. “I began to ask myself: what if I move to find a way to financially support these programs? That’s when I realised textiles could create jobs, empower women, and allow them to afford health insurance and access care on time.”
This transition was personal as well. Mukasahaha had lost a child at 11 months, and experienced first-hand the need for holistic care. “That experience planted a seed in me. I wanted to organise and support people beyond my family,” she says.
Starting Small: The Home Workshop
As she tells it, the early days were challenging. “I didn’t go to business school. I was driven by passion, a sense of justice, and the desire to support others,” she recalls. The first DIKAM workshop was small, with only a pedal sewing machine at Mukasahaha’s home. She worked alongside the first two employees, teaching them to operate the machines, maintain quality, and manage orders.
“I had to learn all the technical skills myself,” she recalls, “from operating machines and understanding fabrics to managing the business side of the workshop. It was challenging, but it gave me the confidence to scale up.” At first, the challenge was not just learning. “We were in the era of second-hand clothes. People doubted whether locally made products could compete with imports from China. I had to convince myself and my team that quality could be achieved with proper mindset, learning, and process,” she says.
Scaling Challenges and Leadership Lessons
Transitioning from a home-based workshop to a factory required more than just technical skills. Mukasahaha had to navigate business management, finances, supply chains, and quality control. “There were times I doubted myself. I wondered if a woman could succeed in this field, if I could manage production, pay staff, and still sustain a family,” she admits. Through perseverance, she developed a model combining professional training, mentoring, and personal support for employees.
She introduced savings and lending schemes within the company, allowing staff to borrow for emergencies, school fees, or business ideas. “I wanted women to see that they don’t have to wait for someone else to support them. With courage, intelligence, and persistence, they can build their own future,” she says.
Empowering Women and Youth
Among the first employees of DIKAM is Joyeuse Bizimana, who started with a pedal machine at home while raising three children. “Before DIKAM, I worked outside doing tailoring, but life was extremely difficult,” Bizimana recalls. “I had a three-month-old baby, and every day was a struggle. Reaching the workshop sometimes took one to one and a half hours.”
The pedal machine worked, she says, “but not like the electric machines we use now. The electric machines are fast, precise, and maintained by technicians, which made a huge difference in my work.” Bizimana’s progression within DIKAM was gradual but deliberate. She learned every machine, overlock, flat, Kansai, and mastered advanced techniques such as making Lacoste shirts with durable collars ready for sale.
Another beneficiary of DIKAM’s model is Agnes Nyirandugutse, a mother of five who joined the company five years ago during a difficult period marked by financial strain and unpaid school fees. “When I arrived at DIKAM, life changed,” she says. Through the company’s lending scheme, she secured loans to pay her children’s school fees and later to install water at home.
Youth Opportunity
The story of transformation at DIKAM extends to young people. Aimé Jean Sauveur Ikuzwe joined in 2020, starting in the kitchen. Within six months, he was promoted to a training programme in printing and embroidery after completing secondary school. “I learned to design using Wilcom and Illustrator, and after training, I joined the printing and embroidery department,” Ikuzwe says.
His skills allowed him to start a small pig-rearing project with 90 pigs, and he is now working on launching a printing business. “DIKAM gives youth hope. Many are lost in idleness or drugs, but with skills and determination, you can create your own future. I also want to teach youth design, so they can find a path without waiting for an office job,” he says.
Building a Legacy in Rwanda’s Textile Sector
Founded in 2018, DIKAM began as a small tailoring workshop, and has since grown into one of Rwanda’s prominent manufacturing enterprises. Its focus on training, quality control, and promoting Made-in-Rwanda products has allowed it to carve out a strong niche in both local and regional markets.
Looking ahead, DIKAM is working on establishing its own production plant to expand its value chain, expected to be operational early next year. This will allow local processing from raw materials to finished garments, create additional jobs, and further solidify Rwanda’s presence in regional textile markets.
Recognition Across Africa
Mukasahaha’s work has received continental attention. She is among the Top 10 finalists in the 2025 Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) competition, a prestigious initiative launched by the Jack Ma Foundation. The programme has a $1.5 million prize pool, where the top three are awarded larger shares, and the remaining finalists each receive $100,000, placing DIKAM on a competitive global stage.
Lessons Learned and Advice for Others
Through years of challenges and achievements, Mukasahaha has learned lessons she shares openly. Courage and perseverance are central. She encourages women to start small, to dare, and to believe in themselves. “Nothing is handed to you. Start with one machine, one workshop…one small idea. From there, you can grow, and every success inspires another,” she says.
A Vision for the Future
Mukasahaha’s vision is expansive. She aims to open small workshops across Rwanda, mentor more women and youth, and create sustainable employment. “I want to create opportunities that multiply impact. When women learn, work, and save, they change the lives of their families and communities. DIKAM is more than a business; it is a movement where talent is nurtured, skills are built, and hope is created for generations to come,” she says.
Through determination, skill, and a relentless commitment to empowering others, Mukasahaha and DIKAM are symbols of what is possible when vision meets action. From humble beginnings behind a pedal machine to a thriving factory transforming lives, their story is one of courage, resilience, and the enduring power of opportunity.
