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 Père Martin.
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.
'That trip brought me here,' he said. 'I came for the graduation and to support my mother after losing my father.'
During that visit, Velings was struck by Rwanda's 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.
'I 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,' he recalled.
'Then I saw this land and thought: why not here? Why not build a lodge, a welcoming guesthouse, right on this shore?'
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.
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's leadership, Velings decided to attend. Bonn was only a 90-minute drive from Brussels.
'I went without high expectations, but what I experienced was extraordinary, the cultural performances, the ministers' presentations, and especially hearing the President speak directly. The openness in answering questions was unlike anything I had seen from leaders elsewhere,' he said.
The event, attended by around 6,000 people, solidified his confidence in Rwanda's leadership and future.
'That day decided everything,' Velings recalled. 'I left energized and told my friends, 'If there's a flight tomorrow, I'm on it.' 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.'
Now in its seventh year of operation, Umutuzo Lodge offers accommodation, boat excursions to Lake Kivu's islands, water sports, and cultural experiences including traditional banana beer brewing, beekeeping, handicrafts, and Intore dance performances.
'It's more than a lodge, it's a home where guests are welcomed like family. We share meals, stories, and daily life together,' Velings said.
The business has grown steadily, employing a team of 18 local staff and generating income that supports their families and the wider community.
'We're not wealthy, but we're contributing to the area's development in our own way,' he added.
Velings also commended Rwandan institutions, particularly the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), for streamlining tourism investments and fostering a supportive environment.
'This is the kind of leadership I believe in, leaders who listen to citizens and inspire optimism for a better tomorrow,' he said.
Approximately 90 percent of the lodge's guests come from Europe (primarily Belgium and France) and the United States.
Karirima Aimable Ngarambe
