Epiphanie Mukashyaka

Epiphanie Mukashyaka (born c. 1959–1960) is a Rwandan businesswoman. She is the founder of Bufcoffee and the first woman producing specialty coffee in Rwanda.

Early life Mukashyaka was born in 1959 or 1960 in Rwanda. She was educated for 6 years and married at the age of 17. She had 8 children.

At the time in pre-genocide Rwanda, women were not allowed to inherit land, and it was virtually impossible to run a business. By the end of the Rwandan genocide, about 70% of the population was female and about 30% male. where she employed farmers to grow the beans. and in 2007, she opened a second coffee washing facility called "Remera".,

In 2016, the company had over 4,000 shareholders, and coffee exported at a premium to America.

Covid-19 pandemic At some point between 2016 and 2020 the company owned four washing facilities. When the COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda hit, business dropped slightly. By 2020, the company had about 12,000 workers, a decline from the previous year. Some had to give up working as coffee farmers due to the pandemic, which resulted in lower production, although business was still steady and safe. Payments methods had to be switched to online due to social distancing rules.

Personal life Mukashyaka's children work for the company. One is the managing director of Bufcoffee.