Growing Together: Our First Loan & the Future of Rwandan Coffee

Founded in 2018 by Mr. Aloys Nshimiyimana, Umuganura was born from a passion for coffee, local impact, and quality. Growing from renting washing stations and selling cherries domestically, Aloys built a full export operation reaching international buyers. His vision: root quality in community.

Today, Umuganura operates coffee washing stations in Gisagara District and Rwamagana District, working directly with thousands of smallholder farmers. The company processes farmer-supplied cherries — washing, sorting, fermenting, and drying them into high-quality green coffee beans. Roughly 50% of Umuganura’s clientele is international, a testament to the quality of the product and Rwanda’s rising reputation in specialty coffee.

Being Green Finance Incorporated’s very first loan, our support for Umuganura is more than a transaction — it is a signpost of trusted partnership and shared values. Africa Harvest Holding (AHH) identified Umuganura early, providing pre-financing and building a relationship rooted in deep knowledge of the coffee industry. GFI was inspired by that foundation to formalise the relationship and provide the working capital Umuganura needs to fulfil its contracts at scale.

This loan supports four pillars of impact:

•        Farmer Empowerment — Fairer prices and stable income for smallholder farmers in Gisagara and Rwamagana.

•        Global Market Access — High-quality green beans reaching international buyers, lifting Rwanda’s profile.

•        Sustainability — Intercropping, husk-to-manure conversion, waste treatment, and clean water access.

•        Community Growth — Better roads, nutrition, income diversification, and environmental health.

Umuganura’s commitment to the land shows up in practice: farmers are trained in intercropping — cultivating coffee alongside shade trees and complementary crops — protecting soil, diversifying income, and maintaining Rwanda’s lush hillside ecosystems. Coffee husks are converted into organic manure. Washing station effluent is treated before reaching natural waterways. Wells are built and water access improved for surrounding communities.

These practices aren’t just good ethics — they are the foundation of GFI’s focus on carbon credit initiatives and ESG-aligned lending. By supporting more sustainable agricultural operations, we contribute to emissions reduction and create long-term financial benefits for farmers at the heart of the supply chain.

The loan will be directed toward scaling Umuganura’s operations: improving processing capacity, maintaining and enhancing washing stations, strengthening logistics, and investing in infrastructure that supports waste treatment, soil health, and water access. Farmer training will be expanded. Over time, GFI hopes to see:

•        Increased incomes for cherry-supplying farmers.

•        More jobs across the washing station supply chain.

•        Reduced waste and responsible water use.

•        Stronger positioning of Rwandan specialty coffee in global markets.

This partnership is about Rwanda’s journey — towards resilient agriculture, vibrant rural livelihoods, and a future where natural resources are a source of life, not risk. Green Finance Incorporated was established in 2025 with the conviction that SME businesses are the backbone of our economy, and that sustainable practices in agriculture are not optional — they are essential.

We are inspired by what Umuganura Export Company Ltd has built so far, and even more by what is yet to come. To our partners, clients, and readers: follow along, support local farmers, value sustainability, and believe in what can grow from capital rooted in trust, vision, and community.

Together, we grow.