Peter Charles DJOMGA TOUKO

If there is one word I would associate with Peter Charles, it is process. He has always pushed for structure, visibility and open communication and while we have definitely joked about his OCD tendencies, there is a reason for it. His insistence on documenting work, keeping things visible and making sure nothing happens in silos has made collaboration between Engineering and other departments much stronger. I saw this especially during high-stakes initiatives like Mass Service Digitization (MSD), where the team was onboarding 200+ services onto Irembo. Peter Charles led the team with a real sense of discipline, making sure everyone was aligned, communicating and moving together. One quality I particularly admire is his ability to predict outcomes. He often seems to see problems coming long before everyone else does. He has a good instinct for when something is not going to work and, when possible, course-corrects before it becomes a bigger problem. During the RDB OSC period, we were juggling a lot: supporting customers every day, dealing with bugs, and constant change requests. Peter Charles insisted that we log everything. At the time, it sometimes felt like “Peter, do we really need a Jira ticket for this?” 😂 But that discipline gave us something incredibly valuable: evidence. We could look back and understand the volume and nature of the work we had done, reflect on it, and use that information to improve. Beyond the processes, Peter Charles is also incredibly humble. He is often the person walking around the P&E area in the morning saying hello to everyone and sits alongside his team and simply being present. Peter Charles has also helped lay the foundation for many of the ways we work today from how we write change requests, SRDs and workflows as product team. I am genuinely grateful to have worked with you, Peter Charles. Wishing you all the very best in your next chapter.

Peter has been a great mentor to so many of us. For me personally, I will always remember one of our very first encounters. He gave me feedback, and I thought I would take it away and apply it after our session. Instead, he had me apply it right there while he was watching. It was a grueling four hours, some of which, felt like I was at gunpoint! But that experience completely changed the way I work and, more importantly, the confidence I have in my own work. It is an experience I will never forget. You have been an exceptional leader, teacher and mentor. Thank you for your patience, your honesty, and the time you have invested in helping all the people around you grow. Thank you, Peter. You will be greatly missed.

I still remember when you joined Irembo. At the time, I was feeling lost, lacking motivation, and questioning if I was even the right fit for the company. Then you became my manager. You guided me, mentored me, and helped me rebuild my confidence because you truly believed in me, and I will always be deeply grateful for that. Thank you for being the perfect balance of a tough and gentle leader. You stretched us to reach our goals while caring for us deeply along the way. You fought relentlessly for the growth of this team, and we all saw and appreciated it. You became our biggest motivation for coming to work every day, ensuring we truly understood the "why" behind everything we did. You introduced us to the fast-paced Cameroonian way of working, shaking us out of our comfortable Rwandan way and pushing us to be better. You put the right processes and added the right people to the team, and created a safe space for us to share our ideas and feelings; you equipped us for long-term success. You have been an incredible role model, and we have looked up to your leadership with immense admiration. While we are genuinely sad to see you leave, we are happy for your next chapter. Wishing you nothing but the absolute best on your new adventure!

When I joined Irembo, I had a little bit of a mindset of thinking, “there’s always tomorrow.” You helped me gradually move away from that mindset by emphasizing the importance of understanding the urgency behind my work and the impact it can have on Rwandan citizens. Working at IremboGov made this especially meaningful because the services we build are relied upon by citizens every day. You constantly reminded me to understand what was expected, to pay attention to the quality of what I deliver, and to always think about the people who ultimately benefit from our work. That perspective completely changed how I approach my work. It taught me to be more intentional, to understand the importance of timelines, and to always consider the bigger picture and the impact of my contribution. Looking back, I realize how important that lesson has been to my personal and professional growth. I am genuinely grateful for the time you invested in me, your guidance, and the standards you encouraged me to hold myself to. Thank you for being more than a boss. You were a mentor who helped shape the way I see my work, my responsibilities, and the impact I can have through what I do. That is something I will carry with me wherever my career takes me. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter, Peter. Thank you for the impact you have had on me and so many others.

Peter, best mentor I've had, no contest. You pushed us, challenged us, and grew us into better engineers whether we liked it in the moment or not. Thank you for all the work you put into us. Wishing you the best ahead, God bless you!

It has been such a pleasure working with you,Thank you for being such an amazing teammate and for all your support along the way. Wishing you nothing but the very best in your next endeavor. Go be great! 🎉

It’s unfortunate that you’re leaving just as I’ve joined Irembo, so we didn’t get the chance to work together. I’ve heard nothing but great things about you, and I’m sure wherever you go next, you’ll do just fine. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter! 🙌

Peter Charles has really changed the way I look at work. Am glad I was able to work with you even though it was for a short time. You have had great impact on me professionally. Thank you for instilling discipline on our team. Hope to meet you even after Irembo.

Peter, as you always call it, you’re now moving on to another mission. I’m genuinely grateful that our paths crossed. You were the one who interviewed me and saw something in me that gave me the opportunity to join the company. One thing I’ll carry with me is your way of thinking. You challenged me to ask “Why am I doing this?” not to do things just for the sake of doing them, but to understand the reason and purpose behind them. That mindset has changed the way I approach my work. Your critical thinking and the way you challenge people to think deeper have been truly inspiring to me. I wish you nothing but success in this new mission. Keep questioning, keep challenging, and keep inspiring. All the best on the next mission, Peter!

Peter also held us to a high standard ,he pushed us to make sure things were done right. At the time, that pressure wasn’t always easy, but looking back, it’s part of what shaped us and helped us grow into who we are today. Above all, Peter has always had a heart for the people he manages. He takes the time to notice when someone is struggling, even before they say a word, and once he understands the situation, he does everything he can to help. For instance, there was a time i was going through personal issues, and Peter noticed almost immediately. He reached out and supported that person in the best way he could a small thing on the surface, but one that made a real difference. Thank you, Peter, for your mentorship, your patience, and your genuine care for the people you led. Wishing you a blessed and fulfilling journey ahead, wherever it takes you.