Over a period of 100 days in April-July 1994 the Rwandan genocide took place – a mass slaughter of Tutsi and moderate Hutu. Through his mother's foresight, Fred Kasigwa had been sent to safety in Uganda before the genocide. Most of Fred's family were killed in the genocide.
The scale and brutality of the massacre caused shock worldwide. Bente, a native of Norway, felt an urgent need to help, and acted accordingly. She travelled to Uganda in 1995 where she met Fred. He took Bente to see the tragic circumstances inside the borders of Rwanda. She witnessed a population in deep need of both practical help and reconciliation. From 1995, Fred and Bente worked together on various small scale projects. Once security was restored and Fred himself felt safe enough, he gained strength to develop the idea of starting a reconciliation endeavour on his grandfather's farm. This farm had been Fred's home until he fled to Uganda at the age of nine. Fred's vision was to give the local population a possibility to develop together by becoming more self-sustaining. Fred invited Bente to help in this process. At this time, the farm was in a sad state but in 2009 work began again on the farm, coffee was planted in 2010, cows purchased in 2011/2012 and macadamia planted in 2013.
Fred Kasigwa died unexpectedly in May 2022.
Fred worked tirelessly for 27 years, and FRED'S FARM was an important part of this work for 9 years. Fred's son, Ferdinant, continues to follow Fred's vision, and FRED'S FARM endeavour continues to support and empower the local population.
The scale and brutality of the massacre caused shock worldwide. Bente, a native of Norway, felt an urgent need to help, and acted accordingly. She travelled to Uganda in 1995 where she met Fred. He took Bente to see the tragic circumstances inside the borders of Rwanda. She witnessed a population in deep need of both practical help and reconciliation. From 1995, Fred and Bente worked together on various small scale projects. Once security was restored and Fred himself felt safe enough, he gained strength to develop the idea of starting a reconciliation endeavour on his grandfather's farm. This farm had been Fred's home until he fled to Uganda at the age of nine. Fred's vision was to give the local population a possibility to develop together by becoming more self-sustaining. Fred invited Bente to help in this process. At this time, the farm was in a sad state but in 2009 work began again on the farm, coffee was planted in 2010, cows purchased in 2011/2012 and macadamia planted in 2013.
Fred Kasigwa died unexpectedly in May 2022.
Fred worked tirelessly for 27 years, and FRED'S FARM was an important part of this work for 9 years. Fred's son, Ferdinant, continues to follow Fred's vision, and FRED'S FARM endeavour continues to support and empower the local population.
FRED KASIGWA (1968-2022): Founder, landowner and visionary for Fred's Farm