The second edition of the Kivu Summer Beach Expo & Festival, organized by Yirunga Ltd, has concluded in Karongi District after ten days of activities aimed at promoting tourism, entrepreneurship, culture, sports, and investment around Lake Kivu.
The festival ran from June 26 to July 4, 2026, bringing together 91 exhibitors, including producers of Made in Rwanda products and participants from other countries showcasing a wide range of products and services.
The event featured four major components: a ten-day business expo, a daily Car Free Zone, sports competitions on Lake Kivu, and cultural and entertainment activities designed to showcase the district’s tourism potential.
One of the highlights was the Car Free Zone, which started on July 1 and attracted more than 6,000 participants from Karongi, Kigali and other parts of the country. Although Car Free Day is well established in Kigali and Rubavu, this was its first major edition in Karongi.
The closing day featured traditional canoe races alongside a Triathlon, combining swimming, cycling and running.
Ten participants for each team, five women’s and five men’s teams registered for the competitions. Women’s teams completed a 600-metre course on Lake Kivu before the men’s races began their turn afterwards.
The competitions took place at Le Château Le Marara, where the top three teams in both the men’s and women’s categories received awards.
Yves Iyamuremye, Managing Director of Yirunga Ltd, said the festival seeks to change public perceptions of Lake Kivu by promoting its economic and tourism potential.
“We want people to understand that Lake Kivu is not only a place for fishing sambaza. It is also an opportunity for tourism, sports and job creation. Our ambition is to develop these competitions into a national event bringing together participants from districts across and outside Rwanda.”
He thanked Karongi District and PSF Karongi for their collaboration in organizing the festival.
“We sincerely appreciate the support of Karongi District and PSF Karongi. After Karongi, we will continue with another Expo in Rubavu from July 9 to July 19, near the Rwanda–DR Congo border, where cross-border movement has significantly increased. We invite all Rwandans to participate.”
Janvier Ntwali, Chairperson of PSF Karongi, said the partnership was established to help local entrepreneurs increase sales, market their products and promote investment opportunities in the district.
“Our primary objective was to support businesses in Karongi by creating opportunities for them to sell more products and increase their visibility. Partnering with Yirunga Ltd enabled us to attract exhibitors from different districts, making this year’s Expo much bigger.”
He noted that the introduction of the Car Free Zone and water sports competitions also helped promote youth talent while encouraging residents to adopt healthier lifestyles through sports.
“We encourage entrepreneurs, employees and residents to embrace sports as part of healthy living. We are also proud to see young people from Karongi demonstrating their talent in these competitions.”
According to Ntwali, attendance increased significantly compared to previous editions.
“Previous expos attracted between 500 and 800 visitors per day. This year, attendance exceeded 3,000 visitors daily, while the Car Free Zone also recorded remarkable participation.”
He added that leading hospitality establishments, including Le Château Le Marara, Titani Hotel, and Delta Resort, participated in the event.
PSF Karongi plans to continue promoting investment in the district and intends to organize another tourism and business festival within the next two to three months as part of its strategy to strengthen Karongi’s position as a tourism and investment destination.
Mukantwali Magnifique
