The scenic lodge was developed by Belgian national Philippe Velings, whose late father supported vulnerable Rwandans, especially orphans and widows affected by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, through the organization Les Enfants du P\u00e8re Martin.<\/p>\n
In an interview with IGIHE, Velings explained that his first visit to Rwanda came in 2018, when he accompanied his mother to the graduation ceremony of a student his parents had sponsored. His father had passed away from cancer a few years earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat trip brought me here,\u201d he said. \u201cI came for the graduation and to support my mother after losing my father.\u201d<\/p>\n
During that visit, Velings was struck by Rwanda\u2019s natural beauty and began considering investment opportunities. Initially, he thought about leveraging his technical expertise in drones, but a trip to Boneza shifted his focus entirely.<\/p>\n
\u201cI discovered this spot along Lake Kivu in Rutsiro District. I had seen many beautiful places, but Boneza truly moved me. As a child, I loved mountain climbing and often dreamed of ending my days in a house in the Swiss or French Alps,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I saw this land and thought: why not here? Why not build a lodge, a welcoming guesthouse, right on this shore?\u201d<\/p>\n
After returning to Belgium, the idea persisted. In 2019, he learned that Rwanda Day would be held in Bonn, Germany, with senior Rwandan leaders, including President Paul Kagame, in attendance.<\/p>\n
Encouraged by Rwandan and Burundian friends, who described Rwanda Day as a unique forum for open dialogue between Rwandans, friends of Rwanda, and the country\u2019s leadership, Velings decided to attend. Bonn was only a 90-minute drive from Brussels.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went without high expectations, but what I experienced was extraordinary, the cultural performances, the ministers\u2019 presentations, and especially hearing the President speak directly. The openness in answering questions was unlike anything I had seen from leaders elsewhere,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The event, attended by around 4,000 people, solidified his confidence in Rwanda\u2019s leadership and future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat day decided everything,\u201d Velings recalled. \u201cI left energized and told my friends, \u2018If there\u2019s a flight tomorrow, I\u2019m on it.\u2019 Two weeks later, I moved to Rwanda permanently. I returned briefly to Belgium to settle affairs, then came back in November 2019. There was no hesitation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now in its seventh year of operation, Umutuzo Lodge offers accommodation, boat excursions to Lake Kivu\u2019s islands, water sports, and cultural experiences including traditional banana beer brewing, beekeeping, handicrafts, and Intore dance performances.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s more than a lodge, it\u2019s a home where guests are welcomed like family. We share meals, stories, and daily life together,\u201d Velings said.<\/p>\n
The business has grown steadily, employing a team of 18 local staff and generating income that supports their families and the wider community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not wealthy, but we\u2019re contributing to the area\u2019s development in our own way,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Velings also commended Rwandan institutions, particularly the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), for streamlining tourism investments and fostering a supportive environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the kind of leadership I believe in, leaders who listen to citizens and inspire optimism for a better tomorrow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Approximately 90 percent of the lodge\u2019s guests come from Europe (primarily Belgium and France) and the United States.<\/p>\n