The Catholic Church of Rwanda has launched a campaign to mobilize at least Rwf2.6 billion needed to expropriate the assets where the proposed Our Lady of Kibeho Basilica will be constructed in Nyaruguru District.

The property is located in the ‘Holy Land’ in Kibeho of Nyaruguru District, which is known for apparitions of the Virgin Mary which occurred 40 years ago.

Virgin Mary appeared to female teenagers in the remote area in 1981.

Pope Paul II, the then head of the Roman Catholic Church, officially recognized the apparitions of Holy Mary in 2001, declaring Kibeho a Holy Land.

A Basilica is a church of the Roman Catholic Church with certain privileges conferred on it by the Pope.

It is considered as a large and important place of worship that has been given special ceremonial rights by the Pope.

The proposed Basilica that was planned to be completed by end of 2021 is expected to have a seating capacity of 10,000 and a compound with capacity to accommodate up to 100,000 pilgrims.

Bishop Célestin Hakizimana of Gikongoro Diocese has written to all stakeholders, fellow bishops, priests and other clerics, as well as Christians and other well-wishers in the country and beyond to join the drive in mobilizing funds needed in expropriation.

Speaking to The New Times, he said: "We commissioned land surveyors to evaluate the people’s assets and found that we need Rwf2.6 billion to expropriate them to get bigger land for the project. That is what we are currently mobilizing for. Then after expropriation, we will embark on construction projects.”

The assets evaluation, he said, was conducted by Geospatial Surveying Service NGR Ltd.

However, he noted that the studies of the cost and design of the big chapel proposed to be ‘Basilica” are being reviewed.

"Estimations have shown that we need around $70 million but the final study will show the exact cost. Currently, we are mobilizing resources for expropriation because you can’t think of starting construction without land. As soon as we get the money, expropriation will immediately start,” he said.

Kibeho Holy Land receives between 500,000 and 600,000 pilgrims every year.

"Kibeho land is visited by a great number of visitors and therefore we need the biggest Chapel that will be accommodating such a number especially during festivals.

Kibeho town master plan has considered this expected complex and the land to where it must be expanded yet the land is people’s property and therefore expropriation is needed,” he explained.

The basilica is envisioned to be a modern worship complex containing a parking lot for 700 buses and 2,000 smaller cars, and several other service unit spaces according to initial study and design.

"The construction must start when we have 70 percent of needed funds,” he said, adding that the fundraising drive will be led by the Our Lady of Kibeho Basilica Foundation.

The Foundation was established by Christians led by Immaculée Ilibagiza, a US-based Rwandan author.