Ruronzi

Our Story

Ruronzi Farm – Uzziel Habimana

Uzziel Habimana, Q Grader and co-owner of Ikawa House, is not only a leading figure in Rwanda’s coffee sector but also an innovative coffee producer dedicated to advancing quality and sustainability. On his 5-hectare farm in Mataba, located in the Karongi District of Rwanda, Uzziel cultivates and experiments with a diverse range of coffee varieties, including Mibirizi, Batian, Geisha, RAB C15, Sachimor, and San Roque.

Together with his farm manager, Athanase Nyirishema, Uzziel has developed a model of sustainable agriculture that extends far beyond conventional coffee farming. Coffee trees flourish within a vibrant polyculture system alongside passionfruit, avocados, bananas, and tree tomatoes. The farm also produces staple crops such as soybeans, cassava, beans, and corn, creating a resilient and diversified agricultural ecosystem.

Livestock play an equally important role in the farm’s sustainability. Cows provide milk for the local community while supplying manure for compost production, helping to maintain healthy soils and reduce external inputs. This holistic approach has transformed Ruronzi into a thriving, biodiverse farm where environmental stewardship and coffee quality go hand in hand.

The name Ruronzi originates from the herds of cattle that historically passed through the area. It reflects a deep family heritage: Uzziel’s great-grandparents migrated from the Musanze region in northern Rwanda to Mataba in search of grazing land for their livestock. Their journey laid the foundation for the farm that exists today.

Uzziel’s story is also inseparable from Rwanda’s history. Like many Rwandans, he lost members of his family during the 1994 genocide. Following the loss of his parents and the destruction of nearly everything he owned, only a small number of coffee trees remained. Some of these trees, now more than 50 years old, continue to bear fruit on the farm today. They became a symbol of resilience and hope, inspiring Uzziel to honor his father’s legacy through coffee production and to build a future rooted in quality, sustainability, and community.

Today, Ruronzi Farm stands as a testament to perseverance, innovation, and the transformative potential of specialty coffee.