There are moments in life that leave a permanent mark — not because of grand speeches or expensive stages, but because of the warmth shared between people, the crackle of an open fire, and the irresistible aroma of roasting maize drifting through the cool mountain air.
On the 4th of April 2026, Uganda Maize Roasting Fest created one of those moments in the beautiful, mist-covered hills of Kisoro District, at the remarkable New Casa Gorilla Lodge. What began as a roasting event turned into something far greater — a celebration of culture, community, laughter, and life.
Fifty members gathered. Not a single one left without a full heart, a satisfied appetite, and a story worth telling.
A Setting Fit for a Feast
Kisoro is not just a district — it is a feeling. Tucked in the far south-western corner of Uganda, bordered by Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kisoro is a land of towering volcanoes, terraced hillsides, and a people whose warmth rivals the heat of any grill.
New Casa Gorilla Lodge sat at the heart of it all. Surrounded by lush greenery and the quiet grandeur of the Virunga Mountains, the venue gave the entire gathering an almost magical quality. The moment guests arrived, they knew this was going to be a special day:
- The fresh mountain breeze cooled the air around the fire
- The stunning Kisoro scenery created a natural, awe-inspiring backdrop
- The sound of laughter rising from the gathering grounds set the perfect tone
It was, without question, the ideal location for a Kisoro maize roasting event that would be remembered for a long time to come.
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A Host Who Opened His Heart — and His Lodge
Before a single cob of maize hit the grill, the man behind New Casa Gorilla Lodge made his presence known — and felt.
Mr. Bizoza Francis, proprietor of New Casa Gorilla Lodge, welcomed every guest with a joy that was impossible to contain. His excitement was genuine, his happiness contagious. You could see it in his eyes and hear it in the warmth of his words: he was truly honoured to host Uganda Maize Roasting Fest.
But Mr. Bizoza Francis did not stop at words. In a gesture of extraordinary generosity, New Casa Gorilla Lodge offered free maize to all attendees. This act of hospitality reflected the very spirit that Uganda Maize Roasting Fest is built upon:
- Giving freely to the community
- Nourishing people regardless of status
- Welcoming everyone to the table
On behalf of all fifty members and the entire Uganda Maize Roasting Fest family, we extend our deepest gratitude to Mr. Bizoza Francis and New Casa Gorilla Lodge. Your generosity made this event shine, and your kindness will not be forgotten.
The Chief Roaster Takes the Grill
Every great event needs a great leader. On this day, the honour of Chief Roaster fell to none other than the LC5 Chairman of Kisoro District, Hon. Abel Bizimana — and he delivered in spectacular fashion.
From the moment Chairman Bizimana took his place at the grill, the energy of the event transformed. He was not a man performing a duty; he was a man in his element — fully alive, fully present, and completely committed to making every single person around him feel the joy of the moment.
His approach to roasting maize was as passionate as his approach to leadership: hands-on, enthusiastic, and deeply connected to the people he serves.
What made the Chairman truly unforgettable, however, was not just his skill at the grill. It was his extraordinary gift for storytelling.
Roots, Culture, and the Story of the Bafumbira
As the maize roasted and smoke curled upward into the Kisoro sky, Chairman Bizimana held the crowd captivated with stories that educated, entertained, and inspired in equal measure.
Among the most fascinating was his account of how the Bafumbira culture came into existence. The Bafumbira are the indigenous people of Kisoro District — a Bantu-speaking community with deep roots in the Virunga region and strong cultural ties to the broader Great Lakes area of East and Central Africa.
As the Chairman narrated:
- The origins and migration of the Bafumbira people
- Their identity and traditions passed across generations
- The values that have sustained their culture to this day
The entire gathering fell into a respectful, captivated silence. Here was history coming alive — not in a classroom or a textbook, but around a roasting fire in the very land where that history was written.
This is why Uganda Maize Roasting Fest exists beyond food. We are a platform for culture. A space where stories are told, where heritage is honoured, and where young and old sit side by side and learn from one another.
Want to learn more about who we are and what we stand for? Read our story here.
Fifty People, One Spirit
Look around any Uganda Maize Roasting Fest event and you will find the same thing: people from all walks of life, united by one simple, powerful thing.
At the Kisoro Maize Roasting Event 2026, fifty members came together at New Casa Gorilla Lodge — and the atmosphere was nothing short of electric:
- Strangers became friends within minutes of arriving
- Old acquaintances reconnected around the fire
- Conversations flowed as freely as the maize was shared
- Laughter filled the grounds from the first greeting to the final bite
The happiness that filled New Casa Gorilla Lodge that afternoon was the kind that cannot be manufactured. It can only be grown — carefully, through the deliberate act of bringing people together with purpose and love.
Across all fifty attendees, the verdict was unanimous: this was an event to remember. People came for the maize. They stayed for the community.
A Special Presence: Mr. Hafasha Keneth, CEO of KCI Institute
Among the fifty was a man whose name is synonymous with this movement — Mr. Hafasha Keneth, Founder and Chief Organizer of Uganda Maize Roasting Fest and CEO of KCI Institute.
If there is one thing everyone knows about Mr. Hafasha Keneth, it is this: the man loves maize. Not casually, not occasionally — deeply, passionately, and with every fibre of his being.
His presence at the Kisoro event was both fitting and symbolic. As the person who gave birth to this movement, watching it unfold — the laughter, the stories, the free maize, the cultural conversations, the pure joy — was a living testament to everything he envisioned from the very beginning.
Mr. Hafasha mingled with attendees, shared in the roasting, listened to the Chairman’s stories, and was — as always — right at the heart of things. His energy, his dedication, and yes, his love for a perfectly roasted cob of maize, added yet another layer of warmth to an already extraordinary day.
More Than Maize — A Movement That Keeps Growing
When we light a grill at Uganda Maize Roasting Fest, we are doing more than cooking. We are building something. Relationship by relationship, community by community, story by story, we are weaving a fabric of connection across Uganda that grows stronger with every single event.
The Kisoro Maize Roasting Event 2026 at New Casa Gorilla Lodge was proof of exactly that. Proof that when you bring people together in good faith, with generosity and purpose, something extraordinary happens. Proof that maize — humble, golden, deeply Ugandan — has the power to start conversations, preserve cultures, and spark joy in the hearts of everyone who gathers around its fire.
To Chairman Abel Bizimana: thank you for your energy, your stories, and your fire — both at the grill and in your leadership.
To Mr. Bizoza Francis and New Casa Gorilla Lodge: thank you for your generosity and your incredible hospitality.
To every one of the fifty members who made the journey to Kisoro: you are the movement.
And to everyone reading this who has yet to attend a Uganda Maize Roasting Fest event — your seat at the fire is waiting.
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Come for the maize. Stay for the community.
Uganda Maize Roasting Fest — Roasting Communities Together, Across Every Corner of the Pearl of Africa.
