The ministry says national milk production has increased sharply over the past two decades, rising from about 332,000 litres per day in 2005 to approximately 2.9 million litres in 2025.
The figures were highlighted on May 21, 2026 during the second celebration of “Cow Day,” an event initiated by Rubavu District to showcase the importance of cattle in improving livelihoods and driving local development.
Jean Claude Ndorimana is the Director General, Animal Resources Development for MINAGRI, praised the initiative and said there is a need to elevate the celebration to the national level.
He noted that cattle play a wide-ranging role in society, contributing not only to nutrition through milk but also to economic development through income generation, improved crop production via manure, and even social cohesion through practices such as bride price and livestock sharing.
“The benefits of cattle are well known. They provide milk that improves health and helps prevent child stunting, generate income, and produce manure that improves agricultural productivity. They also strengthen family and social ties,” he said.
Ndorimana attributed the rise in milk production largely to improvements in livestock farming, particularly the Girinka programme, which has transformed dairy production across the country.
He also urged farmers to take up livestock insurance, noting that the government subsidises 40% of the cost, while farmers contribute the remaining 60%.
Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa said cattle play a central role in the district’s economy and culture, describing them as symbols of nutrition, unity, and agricultural productivity.
“A cow is like a factory. It is not an exaggeration to say so. That is why it deserves a special day, and it should reach everyone, as envisioned by the President who launched the Girinka programme,” he said. He added that modern dairy cattle in the district can produce 35 litres of milk or more per day.
Mulindwa also said Cow Day celebrations in Rubavu will be aligned with the number of cows ready to be passed on under the Girinka programme, to strengthen the system of cattle redistribution.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources further said Cow Day should be aligned with national development programmes, including the Rwanda Dairy Development Project Phase II (RDDP2), which aims to boost milk production in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and is implemented by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
According to a 2025 MINAGRI report, Rwanda had an estimated 1,727,913 cattle nationwide.
34 households in Rubavu District received cows under the Girinka programme.In Rubavu, a cow can cost up to Rwf3 million. Farmers with cows producing 35 litres of milk per day received equipment to support livestock farmingJean Claude Ndorimana is the Director General, Animal Resources Development for MINAGRI giving milk to children. Cattle continue to contribute to the development of RwandansMayor Mulindwa awarded a farmer who cultivated quality fodder, which increases milk production on a three-hectare farm.The event also featured livestock farming equipment related exhibition. Mayor Mulindwa said that livestock farming in Rubavu District continues to develop day by dayVarious leaders attended Cow Day celebrations in RubavuThe ‘Cow Day’ has been celebrated in Rubavu for second time.
The pilot phase began on Monday, May 18, 2026, on the route connecting Kanombe to central Kigali, passing through Kigali International Airport, Chez Lando, Gishushu, KABC, Park Inn, Urban by CityBlue, BPR, and Serena Hotel.
The service introduces dedicated 100% electric buses designed specifically for airport passengers, particularly travelers moving between the airport and major hotels across Kigali.
According to Ecofleet’s Communications and Public Relations Officer, Havugimana Aldo, the buses will operate in line with flight schedules to ensure timely transfers for passengers.
The buses are fully electric.
This means that passengers departing from hotels to the airport will be picked up based on their flight departure times and transported directly to Kigali International Airport.
He noted that the pilot phase is intended to assess the service’s ability to reliably align with flight schedules once fully operational.
Regarding fares, Ecofleet stated that pricing is still under review and will be determined after the completion of the pilot phase.
The company also highlighted that designated stops and signage have been installed along the route to guide passengers accessing the airport service. The buses will be reserved exclusively for airport passengers, both arriving and departing.
“These buses will pick up passengers at the airport and designated stops along the route. They are exclusively for airport users and will have special fares. Other passengers travelling along the same corridor will continue using regular city buses on the Kanombe–Remera–Kabuga routes,” Havugimana said.
Ecofleet stated that pricing is still under review and will be determined after the completion of the pilot phase.
He further clarified that the buses will not operate like conventional city transport with frequent stops at terminals, but will instead follow a controlled route focused on airport connectivity.
Ecofleet added that the service is intended to complement existing airport transport options rather than replace them, giving travellers additional and more affordable choices compared to private taxi services.
Rwanda, which has positioned itself as a regional hub for tourism and international conferences, expects the new service to improve visitor mobility while promoting environmentally friendly transport solutions.
The pilot initiative comes as Rwanda hosts several major international events, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2026 Playoffs and Finals, scheduled for May 22–31, 2026.
The pilot phase began on Monday, May 18, 2026, on the route connecting Kanombe to central Kigali, passing through Kigali International Airport, Chez Lando, Gishushu, KABC, Park Inn, Urban by CityBlue, BPR, and Serena Hotel.
At the ongoing third edition of Biashara Afrika in Togo, an annual pan-African business and investment forum organized by the AfCFTA Secretariat, participants stressed that without a strong common protocol, unfair practices such as market abuse, unfair trade practices, cartels, and monopolies would undermine the goal of the AfCFTA.
Speaking at a high-level conference on competition policy and law held on the sidelines of the event on Tuesday, Simeon Koffi, director-general of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Competition Authority, said that cross-border anti-competitive practices, differences in national legal frameworks, and a lack of funding are among the key challenges facing competition authorities in member states.
Koffi added that barriers to market entry, the dominance of informal economic activity, institutional weaknesses, and inconsistent enforcement of regional trade rules further deepen the bottlenecks that require urgent attention.
While noting that ECOWAS has made significant progress in establishing regional competition rules, he acknowledged that implementation remains a major challenge requiring stronger continental cooperation.
“Purely national solutions have shown their limits. What we need is a stronger collaboration between regional competition authorities and the proposed AfCFTA competition authority to ensure coordinated market regulation across the continent,” the official urged.
In his keynote speech, Togolese Director-General for Trade Claude Talime Abe highlighted that a unified protocol on competition is needed as a strong pillar for fairness, transparency, and security within Africa’s nascent single market.
On strengthening cooperation between governments, regulators, and the private sector, Talime called for the harmonization of competition principles at both national and regional levels.
“Competition policy and law are essential for promoting trade exchanges within a framework of fairness, security, and healthy competition. But competition law must go beyond policy declarations and focus on practical implementation mechanisms capable of supporting sustainable regional trade,” Talime said.
Wamkele Mene, secretary-general of the AfCFTA Secretariat, emphasized that the current level of implementation of intra-regional trade under AfCFTA has highlighted the importance of competition policy and other policy enablers in an integrated market.
He said the protocol of competition contains various provisions that provide the required complementarity in terms of jurisdiction between the regional and national authorities on the one hand and the continental authority on the other hand.
“We have built into the treaty these legal complementarities to enable the national authorities and the regional authorities to continue their work in a complementary manner between the two,” he said.
“What we are seeking to achieve is a common policy and legal framework of competition for our continent, both for the benefit of big economies and small economies, and more importantly, for the benefit of Africans and consumers,” Mene added.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with IGIHE during the recently concluded Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali, Ms Loretta Lee, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, said the city with a population of around 7.5 million people is actively engaging African businesses to explore Hong Kong as a launchpad into the Asia-Pacific region.
“This is my first time in Rwanda and my first time on the African continent,” Ms Lee said in Kigali following another trip to Johannesburg, South Africa. “We are truly excited about the opportunities for future collaboration between Hong Kong, Rwanda, and Africa.”
Ms Loretta Lee, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, said Hong Kong is actively engaging African businesses to explore Hong Kong as a launchpad into the Asia-Pacific region.
Hong Kong’s push to become a “gateway to Asia”
Hong Kong is positioning itself as a regional hub for African companies aiming to access Asian markets, particularly China and the wider Asia-Pacific region. According to Ms Lee, the strategy is built on Hong Kong’s established strengths in trade facilitation, financial services, and professional support.
“We would like to position Hong Kong as the bridge between Africa and the East,” she said. “Hong Kong is the Asian hub for companies that decide to expand into the Asia-Pacific.”
The message was echoed during the Kigali forum, where Hong Kong officials engaged with African business leaders exploring eastward expansion.
A key pillar of Hong Kong’s strategy is its tax regime, which Ms Lee described as simple, competitive, and business-friendly.
Hong Kong’s profits tax rate stands at 16.5%, with a reduced rate of 8.25% for the first HK$2 million of profits. The territory does not impose value-added tax, sales tax, or withholding tax, making it one of the most streamlined tax environments globally.
“Our tax system is very simple,” Ms Lee said. “We don’t have VAT, we don’t have sales tax, and we don’t have withholding tax. It makes it very easy for companies to navigate.”
According to InvestHK, these conditions are intended to encourage more African enterprises to establish operations in Hong Kong as a base for regional expansion.
K.C. Lam, Deputy Head of International Markets, Consulates and Chambers (R), and Loretta Lee, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK).
Scaling African businesses through Hong Kong
Beyond taxation, Hong Kong is also promoting its ecosystem of banking, legal, and professional services as tools to help African companies scale internationally.
Ms Lee highlighted that Hong Kong acts as a platform for growth, particularly for companies seeking capital and cross-border expansion.
“I believe scaling up is very important for African companies,” she said, referring to the significance of this year’s Africa CEO Forum in Kigali and its central theme on the imperative to “scale or die.” “With Hong Kong, we can provide business and professional services and financial services to help companies scale up.”
She added that Hong Kong’s role as a global financial centre allows companies to raise capital efficiently and deploy it across emerging markets.
Linking Kigali and Hong Kong’s financial ecosystems
A key area of potential collaboration identified during the visit is between Hong Kong and Rwanda’s emerging financial ecosystem, including the Kigali International Financial Centre.
Ms Lee said both jurisdictions could complement each other as regional financial gateways, Hong Kong for Asia and Kigali for Africa.
“We see Invest Hong Kong and the Kigali International Financial Centre as partners in Africa and Asia,” she said.
Hong Kong is also positioning itself within broader China–Africa economic flows. Ms Lee noted that African demand for Chinese technology, particularly in manufacturing and electric vehicles, aligns with Hong Kong’s role as a funding and facilitation hub.
She cited Chinese firms already active in Africa, including companies in consumer electronics and EV manufacturing as examples of how Hong Kong channels capital into overseas markets.
“We see Chinese companies using Hong Kong as a funding hub, raising funds in Hong Kong and investing in Africa,” she remarked.
Strong interest from African enterprises
During the Kigali discussions, Ms Lee said there was clear interest from African companies looking eastward, particularly toward China and Hong Kong as entry points into Asia.
Invest Hong Kong reported that around 11,000 overseas and mainland companies are currently based in Hong Kong, including 1,500 regional headquarters, underscoring the city’s position as a global business base.
Ms Lee said the goal is to attract more African firms into this ecosystem.
“We would like to see more African companies set up in Hong Kong,” she reiterated.
Ms Loretta Lee, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, together with her delegation, attended the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, held from 14–15 May 2026.
Hong Kong’s “Go Global” strategy
Hong Kong’s outreach is also tied to its broader “Go Global” initiative, which supports mainland Chinese companies expanding internationally using Hong Kong as a platform for finance, services, and regulatory support.
This framework, Ms Lee said, also creates spillover opportunities for African firms, particularly in technology and manufacturing partnerships.
Ms Lee emphasised that the Kigali engagement is not symbolic but part of a structured follow-up process.
“We focus very much on efficiency,” she said. “We will follow up promptly, line up Zoom calls, and help companies take things forward.”
She added that InvestHK’s model includes end-to-end support, from initial market research to business setup and post-establishment promotion, noting, “Invest Hong Kong is here to help.”
Global GDP growth is now forecast at 2.5 percent for 2026, 0.2 percentage points below the January projection, and a modest recovery is projected at 2.8 percent in 2027, according to the report.
The shock delivered by the crisis is primarily felt in the energy sector, through constrained supply, surging prices, and rising freight and insurance costs, with effects cascading through supply chains and increasing production costs globally. While the surge in prices delivers substantial windfall gains for energy companies, it has intensified cost pressures for households and businesses worldwide.
A particular concern is food prices. Fertilizer supplies have been disrupted, pushing up costs, which could reduce crop yields, exerting upward pressure on food prices.
The conflict has halted the global disinflation trend underway since 2023, with inflation forecast to rise from 2.6 percent in 2025 to 2.9 percent in 2026 in developed economies, and from 4.2 percent to 5.2 percent in developing economies, the report said.
Solid labor markets, resilient consumer demand, and artificial intelligence-driven trade and investment support global activity but are unlikely to fully offset widespread headwinds, and the outlook is most challenging for fuel- and food-importing developing economies.
The impact of the crisis is highly uneven, with the most severe damage concentrated in Western Asia, where growth is projected to plunge from 3.6 percent in 2025 to 1.4 percent in 2026, driven not only by the energy shock but also by direct infrastructure damage and severe disruptions to oil production, trade and tourism, the report showed.
Elsewhere, outcomes vary widely, shaped above all by exposure and the capacity to respond.
“The Middle East crisis has intensified strains across developing economies,” said UN Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua, head of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. “Rising borrowing costs and renewed capital flow pressures risk deepening debt vulnerabilities and constraining the resources available for sustainable development at a critical moment.”
Demonstrators holding placards take part in a May Day rally in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on May 1, 2026. (Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua)
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the recently concluded Africa CEO Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.
The partnership seeks to unlock innovative housing finance and urban infrastructure solutions at a time when Africa continues to face a major housing deficit. According to Shelter Afrique Development Bank, the continent’s housing shortfall stood at 56 million units as of 2025, requiring an estimated $3 trillion in investment.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Shelter Afrique Development Bank Managing Director Thierno-Habib Hann described the agreement as a key step toward accelerating access to affordable and sustainable housing across the continent.
“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding with IFC marks an important milestone in our shared commitment to accelerating affordable and sustainable housing across Africa,” Hann said.
He added that the partnership combines Shelter Afrique’s housing sector expertise with IFC’s investment and advisory capabilities, enabling both institutions to mobilise capital, drive innovation, and support housing projects that improve livelihoods and contribute to Africa’s economic transformation.
The agreement was signed by Thierno-Habib Hann and Ethiopis Tafara on behalf of Shelter Afrique Development Bank and International Finance Corporation, respectively, on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Summit in Kigali.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will collaborate on strengthening Africa’s housing ecosystem through initiatives focused on improving corporate governance and risk management frameworks, enhancing investment readiness for housing projects, and building developers’ capacity in green construction and climate resilience.
The partnership will also promote sustainable and resilient housing solutions while supporting capital market resource mobilisation initiatives aimed at attracting more financing into the sector.
IFC Vice President for Africa Ethiopis Tafara said housing remains central to Africa’s economic growth and social development.
“Housing lies at the core of Africa’s growth—driving jobs, expanding opportunity, and shaping inclusive communities,” Tafara said.
He noted that through the partnership, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, intends to mobilise private capital and innovative solutions to help narrow Africa’s housing gap and improve living standards across the continent.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will collaborate on strengthening Africa’s housing ecosystem through initiatives focused on improving corporate governance and risk management frameworks, enhancing investment readiness for housing projects, and building developers’ capacity in green construction and climate resilience.
The MoU establishes a framework for ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the two institutions, reinforcing their shared commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth through improved housing delivery and urban transformation.
Shelter Afrique Development Bank further stated that the partnership is expected to accelerate the adoption of innovative tools and approaches aimed at improving housing affordability and access, while encouraging stronger public-private sector collaboration within Africa’s housing value chain.
Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) is a Pan-African multilateral development bank dedicated to promoting and financing sustainable housing, urban development, and related infrastructure across Africa.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, during the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa (NEISA) in Kigali. It reflects Rwanda’s ambition to become a regional pioneer in advanced nuclear energy and supports its long-term strategy to strengthen reliable, low-carbon baseload power generation.
The deal was signed by Rafael Marin, Director of Holtec Europe, and Dr. Fidele Ndahayo, CEO of RAEB. It also coincided with a broader U.S.–Rwanda civil nuclear cooperation memorandum of understanding signed by officials from both governments.
The signing ceremony was attended by senior representatives, including Renee Sonderman, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, and Dr. Usta Kayitesi, Rwanda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
According to Holtec, the agreement sets out a framework for technical cooperation, including site assessments, data collection, and feasibility studies for deploying SMR-300 units in Rwanda. The potential deployment could reach up to approximately 5 GW of capacity, aimed at supporting long-term economic growth and energy security through carbon-free baseload electricity.
“Through this agreement, Holtec and RAEB will work together to deploy SMR-300 units in Rwanda… supporting the country’s strategy to deploy reliable baseload power without carbon emissions,” said Rafael Marin, adding that the project could position Rwanda as a pioneer of SMR deployment in Africa.
Rwanda’s Atomic Energy Board said the agreement builds on earlier cooperation between the two governments and represents a shift toward practical implementation of nuclear energy planning. Dr. Fidele Ndahayo, the Board CEO, noted that Rwanda aims to have its first SMR operational by the early 2030s, following ongoing technical assessments and infrastructure development work.
“This development agreement is about creating a cooperation framework to work with Holtec’s technical team, assess possible sites in Rwanda, and gather data to determine whether SMR-300 can be deployed when the technology matures,” Ndahayo said.
He added that Rwanda remains open to emerging technologies and views the partnership as part of a structured process to gather data, evaluate potential sites, and prepare for future deployment decisions.
U.S. officials welcomed the agreement as part of broader cooperation on civil nuclear energy. Jacob Helberg, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, said the partnership supports safe, secure, and reliable nuclear energy development while reinforcing American leadership in advanced nuclear technologies.
Holtec’s SMR-300 is a pressurised water reactor design described as a “walk-away safe” system with passive safety features and a compact footprint. The company says the design is intended to operate with minimal operator intervention and can adapt to both water and air cooling systems, making it suitable for a range of deployment environments.
Holtec President Dr. Richard M. Springman said the company’s integrated approach, including reactor technology, engineering, procurement, construction partnerships, fuel management, and decommissioning services, will support Rwanda’s broader nuclear program development.
President Paul Kagame, speaking at the same summit, reiterated that Rwanda remains on track to introduce nuclear energy in the early 2030s as part of its national energy strategy. He emphasised that small modular reactors are central to Rwanda’s long-term plans to address energy demand, industrial growth, and economic transformation.
At the summit, President Kagame received a report on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Phase I Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review from Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA. The review marked a key milestone in Rwanda’s nuclear energy roadmap and advances the country’s nuclear ambitions to the next stage following an assessment process conducted with international experts.
“We intend to have nuclear energy operational by the early 2030s. This assessment confirms that we are on track,” Kagame said.
Rwanda’s energy roadmap aims to significantly expand electricity generation capacity, including plans to reach up to 1.5 GW of nuclear power by 2050. Officials say nuclear energy is expected to complement renewable sources by providing stable and continuous baseload power needed for industrialisation and technological development.
The Kigali summit brought together African leaders, regulators, and international partners to discuss investment and cooperation in nuclear energy, highlighting growing interest in SMR technology across the continent.
The deal was signed by Rafael Marin, Director of Holtec Europe, and Dr. Fidele Ndahayo, CEO of RAEB. It also coincided with a broader U.S.–Rwanda civil nuclear cooperation memorandum of understanding signed by officials from both governments.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, by Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Jimmy Gasore, and Tanzania’s Minister of Energy, Deogratius John Ndejembi.
It was witnessed by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Tanzanian counterpart, Samia Suluhu Hassan.
It focuses on expanding cooperation in key areas such as power infrastructure development, renewable energy, institutional capacity building, and cross-border energy collaboration.
Dr. Gasore praised the long-standing relationship between Rwanda and Tanzania, saying the agreement reflects both countries’ commitment to strengthening existing ties and promoting regional cooperation, particularly in the energy sector.
He added that the agreement will help the two countries work together in mutually beneficial areas such as energy trade, infrastructure development, technical cooperation, and other initiatives aimed at accelerating regional integration within East Africa.
The signing took place during high-level engagements held in Kigali, where Rwanda is hosting the second edition of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa (NEISA 2026) at the Kigali Convention Centre.
The summit has brought together senior leaders, including President Paul Kagame and visiting heads of state from Tanzania and Togo, international organisations, investors and technical experts to discuss how Africa can scale up reliable energy systems to support long-term economic transformation.
The MoU comes at a time when Rwanda is advancing long-term plans to diversify its energy sources, including the introduction of nuclear power.
The country aims to generate up to 1.5 gigawatts of electricity from nuclear energy by 2050, as part of efforts to meet rising national demand, which is projected to exceed 5,000 megawatts in the coming decades.
Speaking at the summit, Kagame said Rwanda’s successful completion of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Phase I Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review marked a key milestone in its nuclear energy roadmap.
“We intend to have nuclear energy operational by the early 2030s. This assessment confirms that we are on track,” Kagame said.
Kagame said Africa’s development prospects depend heavily on solving persistent energy shortages, noting that modern manufacturing, mineral processing, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and advanced healthcare all require stable and reliable electricity.
Among the options under consideration is Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, which Rwanda views as more suitable than traditional large nuclear plants.
According to the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Fidele Ndahayo, Rwanda could begin construction of its first nuclear power plant within the next two years, with preparatory work already underway.
Speaking at a recent stakeholder consultative meeting , he noted that several potential sites have been identified, while detailed technical and environmental studies are ongoing.
Tanzania produces about 4,500 megawatts of electricity. However, the country expects its electricity demand to rise to nearly 8,000 megawatts by 2030 and 70,000 megawatts by 2050.
Meanwhile, Rwanda’s electricity capacity stands at about 406 megawatts, creating a significant gap that authorities say must be addressed through new and scalable energy solutions.
Rwanda and Tanzania are already cooperating on several energy projects, including the Rusumo hydropower project, which has the capacity to generate 80 megawatts of electricity.
The project, jointly developed by Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi, is expected to provide each country with 26.6 megawatts of electricity. The power generated is expected to benefit about 1.146 million people, including around 520,000 Burundians, 467,000 Rwandans, and 159,000 Tanzanians.
The signing ceremony took place at KCC on the margins of the second edition of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit on Africa (NEISA 2026) at the Kigali Convention Centre. Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Jimmy Gasore signed the MoU on behalf of Rwanda. The agreement was witnessed by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his counterpart of Tanzania Samia Suluhu. Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Jimmy Gasore, and Tanzania’s Minister of Energy, Deogratius John Ndejembi after signing the cooperation deal.
Qatar Airways has announced that it will restart two weekly flights to Kigali International Airport (KGL) from June 16, 2026, strengthening connectivity between Rwanda and Doha through Hamad International Airport ahead of the busy summer travel season.
The resumption forms part of Qatar Airways’ wider African network expansion, which also includes the restart of four weekly flights to Seychelles from June 16 and daily flights to Marrakesh from July 1.
The carrier, which resumed passenger flights to Kigali last year after a three-year hiatus, is also increasing frequencies on several African routes amid growing demand for air travel and trade connectivity across the continent.
Among the destinations receiving additional flights are Alexandria, Cairo, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Lusaka-Harare, and Maputo-Durban.
In addition, Qatar Airways will launch three weekly flights to Port Sudan beginning July 2, 2026. The flights will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday between Doha and Port Sudan.
According to the airline, the expansion is aimed at enhancing travel convenience while supporting sustainable growth and strengthening global connectivity through its Doha hub.
“This summer, Qatar Airways will fly to over 160 destinations worldwide, connecting through its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport,” the airline said.
The airline has won the Skytrax World’s Best Airline award nine times, most recently in 2025. It also received recognition for World’s Best Business Class and World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge.
Its hub, Hamad International Airport, has been recognised by Skytrax as the Best Airport in the Middle East for 11 consecutive years.
The airline has also partnered with Rwanda’s national carrier, RwandAir, under a comprehensive strategic partnership that includes a codeshare agreement launched in October 2021 to boost global connectivity through Kigali and Doha.
The agreement allows RwandAir customers access to more than 65 destinations across the United States, Europe, and Asia, while providing Qatar Airways with enhanced access to African cities.
Qatar Airways will restart two weekly flights to Kigali International Airport (KGL) from June 16, 2026, strengthening connectivity between Rwanda and Doha through Hamad International Airport ahead of the busy summer travel season.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Managing Director Jessi Flynn said Kweza represents both a business venture and a broader mission to reshape the global brewing industry by centring women and African agricultural heritage.
Flynn, who first came to Rwanda in 2017 as a landscape architect working on the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, said she was drawn to Kweza’s founding idea: a women-led craft brewery using locally sourced ingredients to take Rwandan beer to global markets.
“Brewing is a $900 billion global industry, but only about 3% of those involved in ownership and leadership are women,” she said, noting that brewing historically began in Africa with women, particularly in traditional beer-making practices such as ikigage.
Kweza produces beer primarily from malted sorghum.
Sorghum-based brewing and expansion ambitions
Kweza produces beer primarily from malted sorghum, locally known as amamera, a grain the company says gives its products a lighter, gluten-reduced profile and a distinct flavour compared to conventional barley-based beers.
The brewery, which has already won recognition, including a bronze medal at the African Beer Cup for its Nzovu IPA, began with small-scale production before expanding following licensing approval in 2021. It now supplies draft beer to around a dozen locations in Kigali, including major hotels and entertainment venues, and recently introduced canned products to reach supermarkets and delivery platforms.
Before recent disruptions, the company was valued at approximately $2.3 million (approximately Rwf 3.4 billion), built on investments and brand value, with ambitions to expand across Rwanda and eventually into wider African and global markets.
Before recent disruptions, the company was valued at approximately $2.3 million.
Landlord dispute and production shutdown
However, Flynn revealed that the company’s growth trajectory was interrupted by a dispute with its former landlord, which escalated into a legal battle.
According to her account, changes to an original equity agreement led to failed negotiations and eventual relocation plans. During the transition, she said the landlord locked the brewery premises, prompting legal action.
After a three-month court process, the court ruled the seizure illegal and dismissed the complaints, allowing the company to proceed with relocation. Despite the legal victory, the shutdown resulted in significant financial losses and nearly nine months without production.
“We have not brewed since late August,” Flynn said, describing the downtime as a major setback for a manufacturing business.
The disruption also forced the company to lay off more than half of its workforce, most of whom were women, and temporarily close its taproom operations.
Kweza has since relocated to the Masoro Economic Zone, which Flynn said offers improved infrastructure, including reliable power and water systems needed for scaling production.
Kweza is a women-led craft brewery using locally sourced ingredients to make beer.
Crowdfunding to restart operations
To bridge the financial gap created by the shutdown and relocation, Kweza launched a crowdfunding campaign aimed at raising $22,000, which it has since reached. Flynn said the initiative was intended as a short-term survival strategy while the company works toward longer-term financing.
The MD, who has indicated an intention to countersue as the landlord continues litigation despite court findings, said the funds would support restarting production, rehiring staff, and bringing back key brewing personnel.
Kweza produces beer primarily from malted sorghum, locally known as amamera, a grain the company says gives its products a lighter, gluten-reduced profile and a distinct flavour compared to conventional barley-based beers.
She noted that the campaign has attracted support from individuals, industry professionals, and beer enthusiasts globally, many of whom have expressed concern that the brand could disappear.
The company is also exploring shareholder loans and longer-term investment partnerships as it looks to stabilise operations and resume full production.
A vision that “refused to die”
Despite the setbacks, Flynn said the experience has reinforced Kweza’s identity and mission.
She emphasised the company’s ambition to connect traditional African brewing practices with modern global markets, while challenging long-standing gender imbalances in the brewing industry.
“How do we use this story, this history, and this essence to grow a global brand?” she said.
Kweza craft beer,
Flynn added that continued public support has been crucial during the crisis, with growing international interest in the brand’s products and story.
“When we get calls from across the world asking when they can get our beer in their countries, it shows there’s an amazing future ahead,” she said.
For now, Kweza remains in a critical transition phase, moving from crisis toward recovery, with its leadership betting that renewed production will mark the beginning of a stronger chapter.
“At the end of the day, it’s a manufacturing business with day-to-day operations. But when you sit down with a friend and share a Kweza beer, it’s social. It’s art and science. It’s business. It’s women-led and locally sourced. We’re not only innovating, we’re challenging the market in a way that people identify with, love, and want more of,” Flynn quipped.
Watch the video to learn more about the Kweza Craft Brewery journey, its setbacks, comeback, and what lies ahead.
Kweza recently relocated to the Masoro Economic Zone, which Flynn said offers improved infrastructure, including reliable power and water systems needed for scaling production.Speaking in an exclusive interview with IGIHE, Managing Director Jessi Flynn said Kweza represents both a business venture and a broader mission to reshape the global brewing industry by centring women and African agricultural heritage.The brewery, which has already won recognition, including a bronze medal at the African Beer Cup for its Nzovu IPA, began with small-scale production before expanding following licensing approval in 2021.The brewing equipment has been installed ahead of the resumption of operations.
