Kivu Beach Expo and Festival draws thousands, boosts tourism and local business

By Elias Hakizimana.

The second edition of the Kivu Beach Expo and Festival concluded on Saturday, July 4, 2026 after drawing thousands of visitors to Karongi District, with organizers and business leaders hailing the event as a growing platform for entrepreneurship, tourism promotion and local economic development.

The 10-day event, held from June 25 to July 4 to coincide with Rwanda’s 32nd Liberation Day celebrations, brought together about 90 exhibitors from Rwanda and abroad. Organized by Yirunga Limited in partnership with Karongi District and the Private Sector Federation (PSF), the festival combined business exhibitions with sports, cultural activities and family entertainment.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Yirunga Limited Managing Director Yves Iyaremye said the festival continues to create valuable opportunities for entrepreneurs to market their products, expand their customer base and showcase innovation.

“This year’s edition brought together around 90 exhibitors, including participants from Rwanda and other countries. It has provided entrepreneurs with an important platform to showcase what they do while connecting with consumers and other businesses,” he said.

According to Iyaremye, the festival featured four major components: a 10-day trade exhibition, a car-free zone, traditional boat racing on Lake Kivu and a range of recreational activities designed to promote tourism and create economic opportunities.

One of the key highlights was the introduction of a car-free zone in Karongi, held daily from July 1. Previously hosted in Kigali before expanding to Rubavu, the initiative attracted between 5,000 and 6,000 participants each day, according to the organizers.

The festival also featured traditional boat races involving men’s and women’s teams on Lake Kivu, an event organizers hope to transform into an international competition.

“Our ambition is to develop the traditional boat race into a global sporting event that promotes Rwanda’s tourism while creating jobs and supporting local communities,” Iyamuremye said.

He announced that the festival will continue in Rubavu District from July 7 to 19 and invited residents and tourists, particularly children on school holidays, to participate in the upcoming activities.

Janvier Ntwali, Chairperson of the Private Sector Federation in Karongi District, said the annual event has evolved into an important platform for promoting local businesses while showcasing Karongi’s tourism and investment potential.

“The objective is to provide entrepreneurs with an opportunity to exhibit and sell what they produce while promoting Karongi as a destination for tourism, investment and business,” he said.

Ntwali said collaboration between PSF, Yirunga Limited and Karongi District had strengthened this year’s edition by introducing new attractions and increasing participation.

Among the new activities were a children’s triathlon competition combining traditional boat racing, cycling and running, alongside expanded sports and recreational events aimed at encouraging youth participation.

He said attendance had increased significantly compared with previous editions.

“In earlier editions, the event attracted between 500 and 800 visitors a day. This year, we have recorded around 3,000 visitors daily, demonstrating growing public interest and the festival’s expanding impact,” he said.

Ntwali encouraged entrepreneurs from Karongi and other parts of the country to participate in future editions, saying the expo continues to create opportunities for businesses to reach new markets while contributing to local economic growth and positioning Karongi as one of Rwanda’s emerging tourism destinations.

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Photos:
Children compete in a triathlon event held as part of the Kivu Beach Expo and Festival in Karongi.     Exhibitors showcase locally made products at the Kivu Beach Expo and Festival in Karongi.   Swimming competition