The Vision

 Umurage Partnerships Ltd (UPL) is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee to empower the people in the village of Shyira, Rwanda. We will build lodges for rent to tourists and Rwandans. These will generate income in perpetuity, to be used to start income generating ventures and encourage visitors.  Once we’ve proved this works it can be extended to other Rwandan villages.

Shyira, a Rwandan village for the twenty-first century.

SUMMARY OF DEVELOPMENT STAGES : 

  1. The Umurage Lodges.  This is the initial project to generate income; the design and build by The Umurage Development Company Ltd of several iconic, memorable lodges for rent in the prime tourist area of Rwanda where visitors come to see the gorillas.. ALL profits from these rentals will be sent to a new Rwandan Charitable Company which we are in the process of setting up. This company will then mentor and distribute funds to worthwhile causes. Our business plan is available.

  2. Apprentice training; building team for the Umurage Lodges.

  3. Identify potential businesses and projects for development within Shyira Village and in the Musanze area. We propose to offer funding and mentoring.

  4. Identify further sites for lodges in the South East of Rwanda on the Ikirezi Farms, on Lake Muhazi, in Shyira Village for visiting guests, or in Kigali; each group of lodges will be about 2 hours driving apart.

  5. Shyira Village store.

  6.  Shyira Cultural Centre; (business plan available).

  7. Provide support for successful ‘Street Kid’ programmes and their offshoots, and to village children who can’t afford to attend school. ( detailed information available)

  8. Initiate development of new small industries and new ventures for Shyira.

  9. History of Shyira Museum. We have perhaps the only photographic record of the building of the hospital in 1935 and local life at the time.