Shema, 48, is accused of issuing unfunded cheques and obtaining another person’s property through fraud. He denies the charges.
The court ordered his detention on September 2, 2026, citing the ongoing investigation and the fact that the offences he is accused of carry prison sentences of more than two years.
IGIHE has learned that Shema filed his appeal at the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court on September 4. A hearing date has not yet been set.
During the August 26 hearing, prosecutors argued that there were strong grounds linking Shema to the alleged offences and that he could flee if released while investigations were ongoing.
The case relates to an agreement worth more than €1 million between Shema’s company, Africa Medical Supplier Plc, and UAE-based ABZL International General Trading LLC. The agreement, signed in January 2024, involved supplying medical equipment under a World Bank-funded contract for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prosecutors said Shema’s company failed to meet its payment obligations and later issued two cheques worth $400,000 and $200,000 in August 2025. They said the bank confirmed the cheques were not backed by sufficient funds, with the company’s account holding only $1,183 during the relevant period.
Shema told the court that the dispute arose from problems with ABZL’s bank account and disagreements among its shareholders. He said his company had previously paid $800,000 under the agreement and maintained that he had acted in good faith.
His lawyer, Sangano Yves, argued that the matter was fundamentally a commercial dispute and questioned the evidence surrounding the cheques.
Shema also told the court that he owns assets worth more than Rwf5 billion that could be used as bail security and pledged not to evade justice if released.
Shema Fabrice has appealed a 30-day provisional detention order.
Hassan died at about 8 a.m. at Emilio Mzena Memorial Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment, Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi announced.
“With great sadness, I inform you of the death of Mr Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan,” Ndejembi said.
He offered condolences to President Samia, her family, relatives and friends, as well as Tanzanians, adding that funeral arrangements had begun in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar.
Tributes followed from across the region, including from Kenyan President William Ruto, who said he received the news with “great sorrow.”
Ruto described Hassan’s death as a personal loss for the Tanzanian president and their family.
“President Samia has lost a lifelong companion, her children a beloved father, and Tanzania a distinguished son,” he said.
“Kenya stands with our Tanzanian brothers and sisters in this moment of grief,” Ruto added, wishing President Samia and her family strength and comfort during the difficult period.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also expressed condolences to the Tanzanian president and her family.
Hassan, a Tanzanian agriculturalist, became Tanzania’s First Gentleman after his wife assumed the presidency in 2021. The couple married in 1978 and had four children, three sons and a daughter.
Their daughter, Mwanu Hafidh Ameir, is a politician serving in the Zanzibar House of Representatives.
Hassan maintained a relatively low public profile throughout his wife’s political career and was rarely seen alongside her at public events.
Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has died in Zanzibar while receiving treatment for a heart condition.
The company was among the sponsors of the 21st edition of Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla naming ceremony held on Friday, September 5, 2026, in Kinigi, Musanze District, where 22 baby mountain gorillas were given names.
Speaking to IGIHE, Spiro Rwanda’s Head of Commercial Department, Shanton Ngabire said the company participated in the event because environmental protection is central to its activities.
“The first thing we prioritise as Spiro is environmental conservation, so that we can have a better Rwanda. Every living thing deserves to be protected so that it can live in a clean environment,” she said.
“That is why we came to join everyone else in ensuring that gorillas have a good environment where they can also breathe clean air.”
Ngabire said Spiro is also expanding the availability of electric motorcycles in districts surrounding Volcanoes National Park as part of efforts to reduce pollution from conventional motorcycles.
“In addition to supporting conservation around the Volcanoes, we are working hard to help people switch from fuel powered motorcycles that pollute the environment to electric motorcycles, bringing cleaner transportation closer to them,” she said.
Spiro has expanded its operations in Musanze and other areas near the park. Ngabire said the company currently has 24 battery-swapping stations in Musanze and is continuing to expand towards Rubavu.
“All districts around Volcanoes National Park have branches where Spiro motorcycles are available,” she said.
The company currently has more than 25,000 electric motorcycles operating in Rwanda and more than 350 battery-swapping stations across the country. It plans to continue expanding both its motorcycle fleet and charging infrastructure.
Beyond environmental benefits, Spiro has also become a source of employment in Rwanda. The company currently has 1,650 employees working in various areas of its operations, in addition to the motorcycle riders who use its electric motorcycles.
Spiro was among the sponsors of the 21st Kwita Izina ceremony.Twenty-two prominent figures named baby gorillas born over the past year. Spiro showcased its activities in Musanze during Kwita Izina
In an interview with IGIHE, Nsengimana said improving the quality of education remains his main priority after two years at the Ministry of Education, building on efforts that have expanded access to schooling.
“Improving the quality of education is the area in which I have committed myself to delivering results,” he said.
Among the changes introduced are adjustments to the curriculum in the first three years of primary school, new Learning Pathways in secondary education and efforts to improve how examination results are communicated.
The ministry is also working to reduce repetition. Nsengimana said the repetition rate among pupils in the first three years of primary school has fallen from about 30% to 20% following the introduction of a programme designed to improve learning outcomes.
Teachers given two years to improve English
English remains a major concern because it is the language of instruction in Rwanda’s schools. Nsengimana said teachers must improve their proficiency to ensure they can effectively teach the subjects assigned to them.
“We found that many teachers were not at the level they should be,” he said, explaining that a two-year programme was introduced last year to improve teachers’ English skills.
He warned that the requirement would have consequences for those who fail to improve.
“Within those two years, we hope that all of them will know English, but those who do not may lose their jobs,” Nsengimana said.
The ministry is also raising the academic qualifications of primary school teachers, with plans to move them progressively from secondary-school level to university-level qualifications.
No repeat cheating arrangement
The minister also defended the decision to allow 7,188 students whose national examinations were compromised by adults to retake the tests.
He said the students had been cheated by adults responsible for administering and protecting the examinations, rather than initiating the malpractice themselves.
“We found that these children were cheated by adults, and those adults are being prosecuted because they betrayed these children,” he said.
Nsengimana said punishing thousands of students by making them repeat an academic year would have been unfair, while allowing them another opportunity to sit the examination would enable them to continue with their education.
However, he stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as setting a precedent.
“This is the first and the last time this will be done,” he said. “Next time, if it happens, the regulations will be followed.”
More than 99% of the affected students reportedly sat the retake examination. Their results are expected on September 11, allowing them to join their colleagues by September 14.
Tackling overcrowding, mathematics and discipline
Nsengimana acknowledged that overcrowded classrooms remain a challenge to education quality. Between 2017 and 2024, the government built 27,500 classrooms, but the ministry continues to add more as resources become available.
“There is no other solution than building classrooms,” he said, adding that in some schools with more than 60 pupils in a classroom, two teachers have been assigned to work together.
He also pointed to improvement in mathematics results, which rose from 23% last year to 50% this year. However, he said the figure was still far from satisfactory.
“I don’t believe that mathematics is too difficult,” he said, arguing that greater attention should be paid to how it is taught and learned.
The new school year also brings stronger expectations on discipline. Students involved in fighting, alcohol, drugs and other prohibited behaviour will face disciplinary measures.
Nsengimana urged parents, teachers and school leaders to reinforce discipline, saying a small number of students should not undermine an entire school.
The ministry has also changed the structure of the school day, seeking to reduce prolonged classroom learning and increase practical activities.
“For example, if you are learning about Rwandan culture, you can go outside, dance and practise it,” he explained, arguing that students learn better when they actively engage with what they are studying.
Rwanda also participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) for the first time in 2025, with more than 7,000 15-year-old students assessed on their ability to apply knowledge in real-life situations.
Nsengimana said such assessments will help Rwanda understand whether students are simply memorising information or genuinely understanding and applying what they learn.
“Our goal is to build a knowledge-based economy,” he said.
Minister Nsengimana has said improving the quality of education remains his main priority after two years at the Ministry of Education, building on efforts that have expanded access to schooling.
Under a resolution approved by the Council of Ministers, national flags will be flown at half-mast at public buildings across the country as well as at Cabo Verde’s diplomatic and consular missions abroad during the mourning period. Public celebrations and performances will also be canceled.
The resolution took effect at midnight on Sunday.
Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho, who traveled to Fogo on Sunday along with the ministers of health and justice, said 25 people were killed and 14 others injured in the accident.
Carvalho said the government had set up a crisis response team and sent a 16-member medical team, including doctors and nurses, to Fogo to reinforce local medical services. The government is also in contact with international partners over the possible evacuation of patients requiring specialized treatment, he said.
President Jose Maria Neves also traveled to Fogo on Sunday, expressing solidarity with the victims’ families and calling for psychological support for those affected by the tragedy. He said the causes of the accident should be investigated to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
The accident occurred on Saturday when a passenger bus traveling between Cha das Caldeiras and Campanas de Cima on Fogo Island went off the road. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
The government of Cabo Verde on Sunday declared two days of national mourning for the victims of a bus accident on the island of Fogo that killed 25 people.
Most wild giant pandas live in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, with Sichuan home to the largest share of the population. For visitors, however, seeing these elusive animals does not require venturing into the remote mountains.
In Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, pandas are woven into the city’s identity, appearing everywhere from signs and artwork to souvenirs and tourism attractions.
But beyond the images is the real experience. At the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, widely known as the Panda Base, visitors can see the animals for themselves in an environment designed around their natural way of life.
About 10 kilometres from Tianfu Square, the city centre, the 238-hectare facility welcomes local and international visitors drawn by the chance to see giant pandas up close.
Upon arrival, visitors of different ages and from different countries can be seen making their way through the base, many with scenes that make the visit memorable.In one enclosure, a panda may sit quietly, climb into a tree or settle on a branch, while visitors gather nearby with the same curiosity: to see these gentle giants with their own eyes.
The wait is often rewarded with a panda resting beneath a tree, while another may be busy feeding on bamboo. Elsewhere, visitors can watch pandas climbing trees, moving between branches, descending to the ground or simply stretching out for a rest.
Their movements are unhurried, but fascinating. A panda can spend up to 14 hours a day eating, consuming large quantities of bamboo because it provides relatively little energy. Although pandas are biologically classified within the carnivore family, they have adapted to a diet made up almost entirely of bamboo.
A specialised wrist bone, commonly known as a “pseudo-thumb”, helps them grasp bamboo stalks and strip leaves from the stalks.
At the Panda Base, these behaviours can be observed as part of an environment designed to recreate aspects of the animals’ natural habitat. Mountains, forests and bamboo-filled landscapes surround panda enclosures, while paths connect different sheltered buildings and visitor areas.
Panda nurseries, husbandry zones, research laboratories and a panda hospital are also integrated into the site, with panda “villas” scattered among the greenery.
The experience extends to the panda nursery, where visitors can encounter younger pandas before they mature into adults. Watching the cubs move, climb and explore offers another glimpse into the early stages of a panda’s life, while the care provided around the nursery reflects the specialised work involved in raising them.
Giant pandas can spend up to 14 hours a day eating bamboo, reflecting the demands of their low-energy diet.
The Panda Base is divided into four themed areas: Panda Creek Valley, Panda Forest Area, Panda Reception Hall and Panda Villa Area.
It is not only a place to see pandas, but also a major centre for conservation and research. The facility has spent more than three decades working on captive husbandry and management, breeding and cub rearing, disease prevention and control, and population genetic management.
Its conservation work is presented alongside education. In 2021, the Panda Base opened the world’s first interactive themed museum dedicated to giant pandas. It now has eight major science education display scenes, including the Giant Panda Theme Museum and the Panda Scientific Discovery Center.
Its “Panda Chat” programme brings science education directly to the animal enclosures, allowing visitors to watch giant pandas and red pandas while learning about their biology, habitats and conservation.
Panda cubs can be seen moving and climbing in an enclosure at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Since 2025, the base has also offered customised educational activities, including an immersive practical course on the giant panda’s scientific diet, an experience exploring the ecological information contained in panda feces, and a giant panda enrichment designer programme.
The work at the Panda Base forms part of China’s wider effort to protect a species whose wild population once faced severe pressure from habitat loss and human expansion. Today, nearly 1,900 giant pandas are estimated to live in the wild, with their natural habitat concentrated in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Sichuan is the species’ main stronghold. The Panda Base itself is home to more than 200 giant pandas.
The species, once classified as Endangered, has been reclassified as Vulnerable following sustained conservation efforts, including habitat protection and the establishment of the Giant Panda National Park.
The Panda Base has also become an international centre for conservation cooperation, with research partnerships involving 46 research and conservation institutions across 17 countries and regions. It has hosted the Annual Conference of the Giant Panda Breeding Technical Committee for 29 consecutive years.
And the panda experience does not end at the enclosures. Along the visitor routes and rest areas, nearly 60 cultural and creative merchandise experience spots and specialty food and beverage outlets offer visitors the chance to take home panda-themed souvenirs.
Giant pandas live in different enclosures at the baseA giant panda is seen quietly feeding on bamboo at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.Visitors gather around an enclosure, eager to catch a glimpse of giant pandas at close range.A giant panda stretches out for a rest after spending time feeding on bamboo.Giant pandas can spend up to 14 hours a day eating bamboo, reflecting the demands of their low-energy diet.Sheltered buildings and panda enclosures are connected by paths winding through the green surroundings of the Panda Base. A panda moves between branches as visitors watch from below at the Chengdu Panda Base.After feeding on bamboo, a male giant panda rests beneath a tree at the Panda Base.The Panda Base covers about 238 hectares, with forests and visitor paths spread across the facility.A giant panda rests in the shade as it feeds on bamboos, offering visitors a quieter moment during their tour of the Panda Base. The Panda Base recreates aspects of the giant panda’s natural habitat through its forestsA giant panda rests in the shade after feeding, offering visitors a quieter moment during their tour of the Panda Base.A giant panda climbs a tree, giving visitors a close view of one of the animal’s natural behaviours.A giant panda spends part of its day feeding on bamboo, with the species capable of eating large quantities to meet its energy needs.Panda-themed artwork and displays are part of the experience visitors encounter around Chengdu, a city closely associated with the giant panda.A giant panda sits among bamboo and greenery at the Chengdu Panda BaseVisitors make their way along the paths connecting panda enclosures and other facilities at the 238-hectare Panda Base.A panda holds a bamboo stalk with its paws as it settles down for a meal at the Panda Base. Visitors browse panda-themed merchandise as they look for souvenirs to take home from Chengdu.Panda villas are set among greenery at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.Visitors from different countries and walks of life observe giant pandas at the Chengdu Panda Base.The excitement of seeing giant pandas up close draws visitors of different ages to the Panda Base.Mobile shops and cultural outlets along the visitor routes offer panda-themed souvenirs and other items.Air transport is popular in Sichuan
The suspects were paraded at RIB headquarters in Kigali on September 5, 2026, among 81 people arrested in connection with the alleged cheating scheme. The remaining 42 suspects are still under investigation.
The two vice mayors are Mukanyandwi Janvière, Vice Mayor of Kirehe District in charge of Social Affairs, and Muhayeyezu Joseph Désiré, Vice Mayor of Nyamasheke District in charge of Economic Development.
The 39 suspects include 27 men and 12 women and are drawn from six categories, including district vice mayors, district education officials, school headteachers, teachers, examination supervisors and other people allegedly involved in facilitating the cheating.
RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry said some suspects disguised the practice as “helping children” while actually providing them with answers during examinations.
Investigators found cases where pupils from the same school had remarkably similar answers.
In Nyamasheke, a teacher allegedly photographed examination papers before they were distributed and sent them to a librarian, who reportedly used artificial intelligence to generate answers that were then printed and distributed to pupils.
RIB said testimonies from pupils also helped uncover the scheme.
RIB said the suspects are being investigated for three offences: abuse of authority for personal gain, forgery and disclosure of professional secrets.
Abuse of authority for personal gain falls under Rwanda’s anti-corruption law and, upon conviction, can carry seven to 10 years in prison and a fine of Rwf5 million to Rwf10 million.
Forgery carries a possible five to seven-year prison sentence and a fine of Rwf3 million to Rwf5 million, or one of those penalties.
Those convicted of disclosing professional secrets can face one to two years in prison.
The Ministry of Education recently announced that 7,188 pupils who sat the Primary Leaving Examinations were found to have cheated and will be required to retake the exams.
RIB said the scheme was allegedly intended to boost district performance rankings by producing higher examination scores, even where pupils had not acquired the expected knowledge.
RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry explained that suspects allegedly disguised examination cheating as ‘helping children’.Two vice mayors are among 39 suspects paraded by RIB over alleged cheating in the national examinations.The suspects include district officials, school leaders, teachers, invigilators and others allegedly involved in facilitating cheating.RIB has paraded 39 suspects accused of helping pupils cheat in the national Primary Leaving Examinations.
The project was officially launched on September 3, 2026, and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
Lumia Lux, a company established with the involvement of Rwandans living abroad, said the development will provide high-end accommodation, particularly for visitors who prefer staying in serviced apartments rather than traditional hotels.
The project is also expected to contribute to the redevelopment of Kiyovu and add modern buildings to Kigali’s skyline.
Lumia Lux Apartments Hotel will be built on a 2,800-square-metre plot and will have 14 floors, including two basement levels.
The development will feature studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as penthouses. The apartments will be spacious and fully furnished for buyers.
The building will also include a swimming pool, gym, restaurant, voice-controlled smart home systems, security systems in common areas and international-standard medical services. It will also make use of solar energy.
Some apartments will be available for short- and long-term rental, while others will be sold. The development will also include offices, a supermarket and other services.
The project has been designed with environmental considerations in mind, combining conventional electricity with solar power. It will also have a wastewater treatment system to allow used water to be recycled.
Lumia Lux CEO Linda Lai said one of the project’s key features is its focus on providing comfort and privacy for clients seeking high-end services.
She highlighted that Rwanda is increasingly hosting major events and other activities, making it an ideal place for such high-rise buildings.
Clients will have various options, including private spaces, dedicated elevators and private parking. This will allow those who choose such arrangements to stay in the building and access different services while enjoying a high level of privacy.
The development will also provide shared services for clients who opt for those arrangements.
Lai said Lumia Lux plans to continue investing in additional developments in Kiyovu after completing the current project, as part of efforts to modernise the area, which is regarded as one of Kigali’s prestigious neighbourhoods but still has several ageing buildings.
Several Rwandan banks attended the project’s launch ceremony, including BPR Bank Rwanda and Bank of Africa.
BPR Bank’s Head of Retail Banking, Jean Marc Gakwandi, said the bank is ready to provide loans to people interested in purchasing apartments in the development once construction is completed.
BPR Bank and Bank of Africa were among the financial institutions represented at the launch of the more than $20 million Lumia Lux apartment hotel project in Kiyovu.The Lumia Lux Apartments Hotel is being developed on a 2,800-square-metre site in Kiyovu and is expected to be completed within 18 months.The 14-storey Lumia Lux development will incorporate solar power and a wastewater treatment system as part of its environmentally conscious design.Lumia Lux CEO Linda Lai said the project is designed to meet growing demand for high-end serviced apartments among visitors to Rwanda.BPR Bank Head of Retail Banking Jean Marc Gakwandi said the bank is ready to provide financing to clients interested in purchasing apartments in the Lumia Lux development once construction is completed.Lumia Lux has launched construction of a 14-storey apartment hotel in Kiyovu, Kigali, backed by an investment of more than $20 million.Lumia Lux Apartments Hotel will offer residents and guests facilities including a swimming pool, gym, restaurant, offices, a supermarket and other services.
A vineyard estate is a property where wine grapes are cultivated and turned into wine, usually as part of one integrated operation. It may also combine wine production with tourism, hospitality and other visitor experiences.
The first vines were planted in Kinigi, Musanze District, on September 4, 2026, coinciding with the 21st Kwita Izina gorilla naming ceremony.
The milestone brought together investors, partners, diplomats, government officials and members of surrounding communities.
The project will be developed across three sites in northwest Rwanda; Kinigi, Lake Burera and the slopes of Mount Karisimbi, with the latter expected to host Africa’s highest-elevation fine-wine vineyard at approximately 2,700 metres above sea level.
VINMUSA Founder, CEO and Creative Director Andres de la Roche told IGIHE that the estate is expected to require approximately $22 million from the first planting through to full development.
“We expect the full development of VINMUSA Vineyard Estate to represent an investment of approximately $22 million, from the first vines we planted this week through to completion of the estate,” de la Roche said.
The investment will cover approximately 22 hectares of vineyards, a winery, nine luxury guest retreats and three suites, a Welcome Center and Tasting Gallery, an Experience Pavilion in Kinigi, as well as infrastructure, design and technical development.
The first phase alone is expected to cost approximately $9.8 million and will focus on Kinigi. It will include the first three guest retreats, the Welcome Center and Tasting Gallery, the Experience Pavilion and a winery that will eventually process VINMUSA’s first harvests.
More than $1.1 million had already been invested by the time of the inaugural planting, according to de la Roche. The expenditure includes land acquisition, vineyard preparation and planting, architecture and engineering, technical viticulture work and establishing the company’s initial team in Rwanda.
Building a new wine industry
VINMUSA is positioning itself not simply as a vineyard but as an integrated wine and hospitality destination intended to create a new premium wine industry in Rwanda.
The initial grape varieties include Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage, with certified disease-free planting material sourced from South Africa. The project is receiving technical guidance from Vinpro, South Africa’s wine industry organisation, while Vititec is supplying the certified vines.
De la Roche said the company chose Rwanda after assessing the country’s investment environment as well as its potential to support high-elevation viticulture.
“Rwanda is open for investment from really everyone. This is an innovation hub of Africa. This is a country that we want to be part of, the first wine production in the entire country,” he said.
He said the project’s appeal goes beyond producing wine, with the company seeking to establish skills and employment opportunities around an industry that is largely new to Rwanda.
“What’s especially important to us is the impact that this will bring for the country: training the first generation of Rwandan viticulturists, training the first generation of Rwandan winemakers, bringing jobs to rural communities, and really being women-forward and youth-led as well,” de la Roche said.
VINMUSA is working with Gold Youth Development Agency to create opportunities for young people, while partnerships with Bridge2Rwanda and the University of Rwanda’s Busogo campus are being explored to support viticulture training.
The company is also working with women’s agricultural cooperatives in preparing land in Kinigi, while young people and residents of Sunzu village in Lake Burera are involved in seasonal employment linked to the project.
Rwanda’s elevation as a competitive advantage
The estate’s three vineyard sites have been selected based on differences in elevation, volcanic soils and microclimates.
Kinigi, which will also serve as the future hospitality hub, has an initial vineyard covering about 0.9 hectares. The Lake Burera site is expected to cover approximately 1–1.1 hectares, while the Karisimbi vineyard will cover about 1.2 hectares in the initial planting.
The Karisimbi site is particularly significant because of its elevation.
“Our highest elevation vineyard will be 2,700 meters at the foothills of Mount Karisimbi. The high elevation allows for a cool climate,” de la Roche said.
He added that the company worked with South African viticulture specialists to conduct soil sampling and climate studies before selecting the sites and grape varieties.
“We also chose disease-resistant cultivars because of the high moisture. But the amazing volcanic soils, the minerality in the soils, will really produce something that is authentically Rwandan, that is very unique not only in Africa but really in the entire world,” he said.
The company’s stated ambition is therefore not to replicate established wine regions but to develop wines that reflect Rwanda’s own terroir.
First commercial wine expected in 2029
Although the first vines are now in the ground, consumers will have to wait several years before VINMUSA’s first commercial bottles reach the market.
De la Roche said grapevines generally require about three growing seasons before producing fruit of the quality and quantity required for commercial wine production.
VINMUSA expects its first harvest in 2029, with the inaugural vintage projected at approximately 9,000 bottles.
The first white wines could be released from late 2029 into 2030, while the red wines will require longer maturation and are expected to follow between 2030 and 2031.
By around 2032, the estate is targeting annual production of approximately 90,000 bottles.
The company does not yet provide projected revenue figures, saying its focus at this stage is on establishing the vineyards, developing the estate and building the skills required for a sustainable wine industry.
A self-sustaining estate
VINMUSA plans to develop the estate in phases, with subsequent expansion partly financed by revenues generated from its earlier operations.
“Our longer-term plan is for a significant portion of the estate’s subsequent development to be funded through the revenues generated by VINMUSA itself,” de la Roche said.
“The intention is that what Kinigi earns helps build Karisimbi, and what those operations generate helps us continue developing Lake Burera. We chose that approach deliberately: we want VINMUSA to become an estate capable of sustaining its own growth over time,” he added.
Beyond vineyards and wine production, the development will include luxury accommodation, public wine-tasting experiences, culinary programming, wellness facilities, artist-in-residence programmes, research and education initiatives and expanded community partnerships.
The hospitality programme is being developed in partnership with Virunga Mountain Spirits, with Kinigi Table serving as the estate’s culinary and food-and-beverage partner.
For de la Roche, the broader objective is to create a destination that links agriculture with Rwanda’s rapidly developing tourism and hospitality sectors.
“We want this to bring a new culture of fine wine in East Africa, and having the best be here from Rwanda,” he said.
VINMUSA’s development comes as Rwanda continues to diversify its tourism offering beyond traditional wildlife experiences, with the estate seeking to add premium wine, gastronomy, luxury accommodation and high-elevation agriculture to the country’s growing tourism economy.
VINMUSA’s first vines were planted in Kinigi on September 4, marking the beginning of Rwanda’s first fine-wine vineyard estate.The first planting at VINMUSA introduced selected grape varieties, including Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage, as the fine-wine estate began its phased development. Andres de la Roche and Liam T. Dall are the founders of the project.Guests and partners took part in planting the first vines at the VINMUSA estate in Kinigi.The future VINMUSA estate will feature a range of hospitality facilities designed around its vineyards and wine experience.The planned VINMUSA estate will feature nine luxury guest retreats and three suites alongside its vineyards and winery.The estate is planned to include spaces for wine tasting and other immersive experiences for visitors.VINMUSA’s planned estate will combine fine-wine production with luxury guest retreats, culinary experiences and wellness facilities.VINMUSA plans to develop a Welcome Center and Tasting Gallery as part of its wider vineyard estate.
The affected section of Nyungwe National Park is located in Muganza Sector, Nyaruguru District.
The findings were announced by Nyaruguru District Mayor Dr. Emmanuel Murwanashyaka on the evening of September 4, 2026, following a fire that had burned in the park for more than a week.
The fire was eventually extinguished through joint efforts involving local residents and security organs, including the Rwanda National Police and Rwanda Defence Force, as well as staff from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
Speaking to IGIHE, Mayor Murwanashyaka said preliminary investigations had established that the fire was started by a resident who had entered the park illegally to harvest honey.
The suspect is currently being investigated, although the mayor declined to disclose his identity, saying the case was still under investigation.
“It is still under investigation,” Mayor Murwanashyaka said.
The mayor urged residents to comply with the law and avoid activities that could put protected areas at risk.
He also called on the public to take precautions against fires in general, warning that wildfires can cause significant damage to the environment and other resources.
A beekeeper illegally harvesting honey has been blamed for a fire that destroyed 29 hectares of Nyungwe National Park in Nyaruguru District.
