Meet the man behind Royale’s Carnival nite

He is only 24, but at this age, he sounds like somebody who has achieved a lot in life. He says the sky will be the limit to what he plans to do and achieve. His best word is sorry each time he thinks he has offended you.

Sunday, September 07, 2008
Freddy Turasenga.

He is only 24, but at this age, he sounds like somebody who has achieved a lot in life. He says the sky will be the limit to what he plans to do and achieve. His best word is sorry each time he thinks he has offended you.

His words are calculated and he speaks softly. And he is the proprietor of the Royale Villas hotel in Nyarutarama. This man is Ferdy Turasenga. Everyone, young, old, VIP and ordinary go to Royale Villas.

Carnival Nite in Rwanda was introduction in May, at the Royale Villas hotel. The new modern hotel is located on the top of Nyarutarama Hill, the prime luxury residential area, with a wonderful view of Kigali’s surrounding physical features.

Turasenga says the Carnival launch was to provide space for people to meet and get together in a friendly healthy social environment.

Singing and dancing or wild meat is at Royale Villas. He says his journey  to success was punctuated with troubles but he persisted.

"It was hard at first. Life is not simple but you need to persevere,” Turasenga begins in an interview at his hotel in Nyarutarama recently.

"All this is an inspiration from Donald Trump. Five years back, he was declared broke but now he is on the list of billionaires in America,” the a confident looking Turasenga says.

Donald Trump is an amazing man and my hero. "You know him,” he asks me.

"I don’t,” I reply  innocently.

Donald John Trump was born June 14, 1946. He is an American business magnate, socialite, television personality, and author. He is the Chairman and CEO of the Trump Organization, a US-based real-estate developer.

No wonder, he is Turasenga’s hero.

"I want to do many things. Rwanda is still a virgin country and one can do wonderful things,” he adds. He speaks of his childhood happily.

Turasenga was born in 1981 in Burundi to Nkusi Shadrack and Chlotilde Kalinda. He studied his primary partly in Burundi and later joined Giporoso Primary School in Rwanda where he finished his primary six.

He later joined secondary at Lycee de Kigali, where he completed his secondary school. He joined Twshwene University of Technology in South Africa and graduated with a degree in Electrical engineering, majoring in Power energy.

"I think I have done well. I don’t know what people say,” Turasenga says. He said he has tried all jobs.

"While at the University, I was doing business. We had a taxi and were transporting people.

Together with my friends, we bought two vehicles,” Turasenga recalls.

"We have to be creative,” Turasenga continues. "Life is not easy,” he tells me.

Turasenga did not stop here. He formed a company known as Computer Network Technology and Consultancy (C.NET.T.C) based at Union Trade Center in Kigali.

Turasenga says that one day during a dinner with one of his relatives; he talked of an idea to turn their house they were staying into a commercial Hotel to gain some money.

"So, that is how we started Royale Villas. It is now picking up,” he adds confidently.

"When you do something good, people will support you,” Turasenga empathises. He is very aggressive and innovative. He says he can do any job as long as it pays him well.

"As long as it’s profitable, I don’t care.” One of Turasenga’s greatest achievements is about his business of transporting people which he started while at the University.

While in South Africa, he learnt about the Carnival Nite business and when he returned, he introduced the same to Kigali.

"We are going to have a Carnival Nite event every after three months,” he reveals.

Turasenga says that his challenge at hand is to extend Royale Villas in other parts of the country and beyond Rwanda. He says he wants to be the best in the region.

Turasenga likes to spend his leisure in a gym and reading a lot to discover more ideas. To those who want to try the same work. He says: "Let people be creative. Other things will follow,”  he says.

Ends