The Quiet Battle for Usino-Bundi: Vincent Kumura’s Mission from the Mountains

In Madang Province, Vincent Kumura is working  to address decades of neglect.

For over a decade, this US-educated professional has dedicated himself to delivering basic services, a mission that began after a personal homecoming.

Located at a strategic outpost overlooking the Usino-Bundi district, Kumura’s efforts highlight the role of active citizens in a nation striving for progress. As Papua New Guinea approaches its 50th year of independence, stories like Kumura’s show grassroots movements shaping its future.

Kumura’s path to creating an organization in this  remote area was unexpected.

After studying finance and marketing in California and working in corporate America, his career was on a different course. But a visit home in 2010 changed things.

This decline, particularly in a place that once had a large boarding primary school in the Highlands, was a turning point. Troubled by this  neglect, Kumura decided to act. After finishing graduate school, he returned for good, committing himself to improving his community.

His efforts grew into the Kumura Foundation, a community organisation named after his late father, a colonial-era aid post orderly. The Foundation now delivers essential services where government support is lacking. From health clinics to educational support and infrastructure development, the Kumura Foundation addresses fundamental challenges in a region affected by poor roads and neglected facilities.

The daily struggle for the people of Usino-Bundi is significant, as seen in the local coffee industry.

“When it comes to coffee season, they have to carry the coffee bags, and then they have to walk from those, you know, like deep terrains, from the like a small valleys at the bottom of the terrains, and then bring it up all the way to a point where there’s access of road,” Kumura explains.

This issue of neglected roads affects other services. School supplies for children in Upper Bundi, for example, must travel across four provinces to reach their destination.

For Kumura, his work is not about replacing the government but fulfilling his role as a citizen.

The Kumura Foundation, based in Snow Pass, has become an example of what community-led initiatives can achieve despite systemic challenges. Its work has naturally led to discussions about a broader impact. While not explicitly stated, Kumura’s dedication to public service and his understanding of the issues in Usino-Bundi could provide a platform should he pursue political aspirations. For now, his focus remains on his work from the mountains of Madang.