Founded in 2003 by JJ Keki, the members of Mirembe Kawomera use music and fair trade coffee to promote peace between religions.
Jewish Ugandan coffee farmer and musician J.J. Keki founded Peace Kawomera after witnessing the attacks of September 11, 2001 firsthand during a trip to New York City.
I said, ‘OK, I'll buy it.’” [2] This alliance of Muslims, Jews, and Christians in Uganda with Kulanu and Thanksgiving Coffee in the United States has had two major benefits for the Ugandan farmers, as described in YES magazine: "By banding together and by establishing a fair trade relationship, the farmers now realize enough profits from sales to meet their families' basic need?s [sic]—a sharp contrast to the hardship of trying to sell as individuals to large corporate buyers in a glutted world market.
Better circumstances have, in turn, sweetened relations between the unique Mbale Jewish community and their more numerous Muslim and Christian neighbors.
[8] The farmers of Mirembe Kawomera are also musicians, and founder JJ Keki refers to himself as the cooperative's "Music Director.