How fitness guru Munyengango is driving the ‘healthy Rwanda’ agenda

When he was growing up, Ivan Munyengango had a dream to be a professional footballer, playing for a big football club in Europe or elsewhere, living off the crafty skills of his feet.

But like many young footballers on the continent, that dream vanished into thin air. The chances of breaking into professional ranks will always be slim, and nearly impossible.

Today, the 36-year-old father of one stands out as Rwanda’s biggest fitness entrepreneur. His story is that of a frustrated aspiring footballer who went into fitness to remain in shape – but in the gym, he found his passion.

Munyengango owns Cali Fitness, located in Nyarutarama (mu Kabuga), and the popular Waka, with two fitness and wellness facilities in Kimihurura and in town, which he recently acquired through his company, FitPipo Ltd, to grow his portfolio.

Munyengango’s growth and expansion earned him the moniker ‘fitness entrepreneur’, but it is a world he stumbled into – developed the passion and in his 8th year of doing it consistently, turned it into a business.