On Saturday, 12th December 2015, Hon. James MUSONI the Minister of Infrastructure laid a foundation stone at the new cricket Ground to be built at planned Gahanga Olympic Complex in Kicukiro District.

The ground breaking ceremony involved different officials including the Minister of Infrastructure Hon. James MUSONI, the Minister of Sports and Culture Hon. Julienne UWACU and the British High Commissioner to Rwanda Hon.William Gelling.

Hon. James MUSONI praised the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation (RCSF) which build and manage, on a not-for-profit basis, the first dedicated international cricket ground in Rwanda.

Minister MUSONI said “This project is an important milestone to Rwandan infrastructure, building a dedicated cricket ground will support the development of cricket in Rwanda”.  

The Minister added that the Government of Rwanda underpinned the project by offering a 4.5 hectare land without cost to Rwanda Cricket Association for the construction of the first dedicated international cricket ground in Rwanda.

Minister MUSONI pledged further support to the project for a successful implementation. He also urged Rwandan youth to play this interesting game.

Charles HABA, the cricket federation president in Rwanda expressed hisgratitude to the Government support.  He said” The stadium will be constructed in two phases: the first phase will be ready by 2017 on cost of 600 million Rwandan francs available now.”

The charity foundation to construct the cricket stadium on the edge of Kigali is run by a team of cricket enthusiasts from the United Kingdom and Rwanda and supported by British Prime Minister David Cameron, Andrew Mitchell MP and world cricket star Brian Lara, amongst other high profile patrons.

Cricket is running very successfully in Rwanda by the RCA. Although it is a developing sport, playing numbers have grown rapidly over the last three years, with over 7000 players in clubs schools and universities across the country, but further growth of the game is inhibited by a lack of facilities. Currently, there is only one cricket professional ground in Rwanda.

The new ground, with 10,000 sitter will include a high quality turf pitch, beautiful pavilion and new practice facilities, it will provide a new home for the game from which it will continue developing, strengthening the national team and raising playing numbers.