Bishop Célestin Hakizimana of Gikongoro Diocese has said that a steering committee will be established soon to help fast-track the implementation of the 10,000-seater basilica project in Kibeho 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. It is expected to have a seating capacity of 10,000 and a compound with capacity to accommodate up to 100,000 pilgrims. The development for this project was announced as Thousands of Catholics from all over the world on Monday August 15, 2022 marked Assumption Day at Kibeho in Nyaruguru district, a place famous for the 1981 apparition of the Virgin Mary. Pope Paul II, the then head of the Roman Catholic Church, officially recognised the apparitions of Holy Mary in 2001 and declared Kibeho a Holy Land. He said that the committee to be established is part of implementing the partnership agreement which the diocese recently signed with a foundation called "Our Lady of Kibeho basilica.” The foundation based in the USA is taking the lead in raising the resources to finance the project. The partnership, he said, was signed in presence of Southern province and Nyaruguru district officials. "After the agreement, we had to set up a committee in charge of following up the project. Those to follow up on the project include administrator and a committee of five people. These include two from the Diocese, two from the foundation and one from Nyaruguru district. This committee will be established soon,” he said. He said that an American national from papal foundation recently visited the diocese to learn about the project on July 29, 2022. "The representative who recently visited us is known to effectively conduct resource mobilisation,” Bishop Hakizimana said. He said that during the visit in Kibeho there was also another national from Argentina who is skilled in implementing construction projects related to Catholic Church. The two are helping in fundraising the needed money for the project, he said. He noted that they recently came together with Immaculée Ilibagiza, a Rwandan who dedicated herself to sharing the message of the Vatican-approved Marian apparition. "The design of the Basilica needs improvement. The architect from Argentina has also pledged support to work on the design by working with another voluntary architect from the USA who is already working on it.” This means the design is yet to be complete as Rwandan architects have also shared recommendations with him including study on characteristics of Kibeho soil. After completing it, it will help to know the exact cost we need for the project.” he said. He said that design will again be assessed by Rwandan architects and Rwanda Development (RDB) before final approval. "There is still time to commence construction because we have to start to construct when we have 70 percent of the required budget. It might take two years to start construction,” he said. Initial studies had indicated that the construction works for the facility are estimated to cost up to $70 million. He said that another study disclosed that Rwf2.5 billion is needed for expropriation. "We have written to different stakeholders who are interested in supporting us to get money for expropriation,” he said. 20 projects on the holy land Bishop Hakizimana said the Diocese has planned 20 projects to be implemented on the Holy land including the Basilica project. "We are planning a meeting soon with Nyaruguru district, Southern province, and RDB officials to present all our projects so that they give us some recommendations,” he said. According to Nyaruguru district officials, the projects could create thousands of jobs, attract new investors and boost tourism. Kibeho receives between 500,000 and 600,000 pilgrims every year according to Emmanuel Murwanashyaka, the district mayor. "The land receives about 5,000 people every week,” he said. The Monday pilgrimage is the first pilgrimage after Covid-19 outbreak. "We are happy that it happens at a time when we have also got an upgraded road that is easing transport. The pilgrims used to spend two hours from Huye to Nyaruguru. This time has drastically reduced to 30 minutes in a bus,” he said. He said that investors are also still few to the extent of satisfying pilgrims' demand. "Some have pledged to expand business especially in the hospitality sector,” he said, adding some are interested in building hotels. "Only around 300 hotel and lodge rooms are available. We need to increase the number of rooms,” he said.