The Chief Executive of 1:55 AM and Watuwevu, Kenny Mugarura, has announced that the upcoming “Summer Country Tour”, which will bring together singers Bruce Melodie and The Ben across different provinces of Rwanda, is expected to create temporary employment opportunities for more than 2,700 young people.He made the remarks on the evening of Friday, 5 June 2026, during a press conference held at Camp Kigali, which brought together journalists, artists and project partners.
Mugarura explained that the initiative was conceived by Bruce Melodie and is being supported by Watuwevu, with the aim of delivering world-class entertainment experiences throughout the country.“The goal is to bring joy to people across the country and provide Rwandans with exceptional performances. That is why we have invested heavily in preparations and in the overall production of these concerts. What audiences will witness during this tour is something Rwanda has never seen before,” he said.He noted that, beyond entertaining audiences, the project is also designed to provide short-term employment opportunities for young people while the concerts are taking place.
According to Mugarura, approximately 915 people will be employed each week to support various activities, including event preparation, security, guest reception and other services associated with large-scale entertainment events.“At every venue where we stage a concert, we will provide three days of employment. Each week, around 915 people will be engaged. When combined across the entire tour, the total number of jobs created will reach 2,745. These opportunities will primarily benefit young people,” he explained.
He added that all stakeholders involved are working together to ensure that the concerts serve not only as entertainment events but also as a platform through which young people can earn an income and gain valuable experience in organising major events.Mugarura further revealed that the concerts will be accompanied by an Expo, providing entrepreneurs and artists from different regions with an opportunity to showcase their products and services.
He explained that every location hosting the tour will also feature exhibition spaces, allowing local businesses and creatives to promote their work and connect with potential customers, investors and partners.“We want every stop on the tour to include an exhibition. It will help entrepreneurs and artists from those areas to showcase what they do and attract support or new business partnerships,” he said.The organisers believe that, in addition to promoting entertainment, the tour will contribute to the economic development of the districts hosting the events through increased business activity, service provision and job creation.
The Summer Country Tour is scheduled to begin on 13 June 2026 and will travel across all provinces of Rwanda before concluding on 4 July 2026.During the tour, Bruce Melodie and The Ben will share the stage in a series of highly anticipated performances, fulfilling the wishes of many music fans who have long hoped to see the two stars perform together in different parts of the country.The four concerts featuring Bruce Melodie and The Ben are expected to create more than 2,700 employment opportunities for young people.
