SINA GERARD URWIBUTSO ENTERPRISE

Urwibutso enterprise

 Urwibutso Enterprise started in 1983 by a young and dynamic Sina Gérard with one employee as compared to 421 employees today. It uses local human capacity and resources to develop business which now benefit over 3,000 families. Urwibutso means something to remember, a memory. He started with a small shop located halfway on the journey to Ruhengeri, or current Musanze, and the bakery started working in 1985 at Nyirangarama.
At first, Sina Gérard offered free goat skewers and bread to travelers and drivers with the aim of allowing them to taste his products. Later, in 1993, after 10 years of business experience, Sina Gérard legally registered his business under the name of Urwibutso, delivered from people who taste his donuts.
At its embryonic stage, war and the 1994 Tutsi genocide interrupted the commercial activities of the enterprise for two years. In 1996, the company diversified its activity portfolio and became oriented towards agro-pastoral activities (passion fruit, banana and pineapple, red and yellow pepper, cattle farming, pigs).
In 1998, as a producer of a great quantity of fruits, particularly passion fruit, commercialized at a low price on the national market, Urwibutso Enterprise decided to introduce its commercialized juice under the brand Agashya.
In 1999, a carpentry workshop opened in Urwibutso with the major aim of developing skills of the local people engaged in carpentry. Urwibutso Enterprise provided training to over 200 workers in the carpentry workshop. Today, the carpentry workshop competes with other companies once there is bidding for any market nationally and on many occasions they have been successful.
In 2002, the enterprise began the production of banana beer called Akarusho and a natural honey conditioner.
In 2003, the enterprise introduced a red and yellow pepper oil called Akabanga to the market.
In 2004, the enterprise began the construction and public works activities.
In 2006, Mr Sina Gérard received an award in Frankfurt.
In 2007, the business of Urwibutso Enterprise was certified by the International Standards Organization (ISO), hinged on its achievement of adding value to local raw agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables.
The major focus, however, was to produce and process organic fruit and vegetable products in Rwanda under the following brands:
Urwibutso, for its donut, which as described above means a memory.
Agashya, for all juice products, which means new product.
Akabanga, for the famous chilli pepper sauce, which means small secret.
Akarusho, for all the alcoholic products, which means better than the rest, and family.
Akaryoshye, for its yogurt, which means the sweetest.
Akanozo, for its cereal flour, which means perfect.
Akandi, for its mineral water, which means other innovation.