{The project of building Gahanga stadium was initiated before 2012. At the time it was expected to be completed in 2016 and host CHAN championship held recently in Rwanda. }
Later, the government suspended construction activities of Gahanga stadium over faults realized in the master plan designed by Bibilax Ltd, a company from Turkey.
The stadium was expected to accommodate 40,000 people when completed and would be the largest stadium in Rwanda followed by Amahoro stadium accommodating 30,000.
The Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) has said that the concept of Gahanga stadium will not become history as some people thought and revealed that construction activities may start with the 2017/2018 national budget preceded by building stadiums President Paul Kagame promised in various districts.
Minister Uwacu Julienne revealed this mid this week as she was responding to parliamentarians who asked whether the stadium will be built or not since there is no budget allocated for construction activities of Gahanga stadium.
“I don’t know whether we will talk again of Gahanga stadium since people talk about it but no information whether the project was cancelled. Is the project on course or not. How is the situation?”inquired parliamentarian Mporanyi Theobald.
Responding to the question Minister Uwacu said that in the next financial the project may be put under consideration.
“It can’t be possible to finance the project this year but we will be in position to put it in consideration in every budget starting next year, “she said.
She said that Gahanga stadium will have been completed by 2025 if such procedures are respected every year so ‘Gahanga stadium won’t become history’.
Minister Uwacu explained that Gahanga stadium requires much money adding that they preferred to work on stadiums from districts in this year’s national budget including ones promised by President Paul Kagame .She explained that they will start with the construction of Nyagatare stadium, Bugesera, Ngoma and Nyanza stadium.
“We wanted to start from stadiums in districts since we cannot build Gahanga stadium and other districts’ stadiums promised by president Kagame simultaneously, “she said.
She however explained that they are looking for partners since it would be a chance for the government to collaborate with private investors.
“We have embarked on talks in collaboration with Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the Ministry of Infrastructure trying to seek companies operating in Rwanda or abroad interested in constructing Gahanga stadium,” she said.
Estimates indicate that Gahanga stadium would cost USD 50 million to be completed.
The minister said that its completion would be an added value since Rwanda may host African Nations Championship in the future.
“You have appreciated how successful CHAN was held but it gave us many tasks since Rwanda may host CAN in 2025,” she said.
Recently, Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) announced that the new master plan of Gahanga stadium has been finished and remains with seeking whether expected construction activities may be executed at once or completed in phases.
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