Gahanga Olympic stadium project back on track

The construction of the long awaited state-of-the-art Gahanga Olympic Stadium will kick off this year, according to information from Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), who have been contracted by the Government to execute the multi-million dollar project. Speaking to Times Sport at the RHA headquarters in Kacyiru, Eng. Didier Sagashya, who is also the Director General at the same institution confirmed that the Gahanga Olympic stadium project is going to kick off and design concepts have are already developed. Sagashya said, “We have developed the concepts and the next step is the feasibility study. Our plan is to make sure that the stadium together with the construction of the Rwanda International Exhibition Pack can fit on the same piece of land.” “We are going to meet with the Ministry of Sports and Culture and other partners so that we can discuss about the project designed concepts,” he explained. The project will be funded by the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Sports and Culture, Private Sector Federation (PSF), who have already mobilized funds. The Director of Sports in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Emmanuel Bugingo admits, “We gave the responsibility to Rwanda Housing Authority to come up with the concepts and to find other partners before the project begins.” Meanwhile, Gerald Mukubu, the chief Advocacy officer at Private Sector Federation, explained that, “We are going to have a meeting with RHA to discuss the two designed concepts. The next step will be the feasibility study, which is likely to begin at the end of February or the beginning of March.” Regarding the estimated total cost of the project, he said, “The estimated budget of the whole project is around US $120m with the rate of inflation taken in consideration. US $60million will be spent on Olympic stadium while $50 million will be spent on the exhibition park.” “The project will occupy 55 hectares of land and we were given ago ahead by the government so that the land can be used in the best way possible for the project to meet the international standard,” Mukubu stated. In June 2014, the government of Rwanda shelved plans to construct the modern 40,000 sitter stadium project by cancelling an agreement that had been signed with the Turkish construction company, Bibilax Ltd because faults were detected in the architectural designs. When finalized, the Olympic stadium will not only serve as a football ground but it will also include of other facilities like the athletics track and field, along with hosting other sports facilities like the Olympic swimming pool and gymnastics facilities. editorial@newtimes.co.rw