Kigali Golf Club has reached an agreement with Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) to pay only Rwf70m of the tax arrears following its closure on July 21 over unpaid taxes that had accumulated to Rwf200m. 

The Golf Club was closed after a tax audit exercise by RRA revealed that a total of Rwf200 million in unpaid taxes and accumulated interest and penalties had not been paid between 2007 and 2009.

In an exclusive interview with Times Sport, the Kigali Gold Club president Dr Richard Gakuba said, they have held talks with RRA officials over reducing the payable amounts as the Club was unable to disburse the total amount and they came to a mutual agreement to pay only Rwf70m.

"We have come with a plan to pay Rwf70m and hopefully we shall meet this obligation within a period of one year that has been given to us,” Dr. Gakuba confirmed on Monday.

He also revealed that all Kigali Golf Club members have agreed to pay a quarterly fee of Rwf150, 000 starting August 1 and that they have also got individual pledges from members of about Rwf8.5m as they seek a way out of the debt burden.

Dr. Gakuba noted that they plan to meet again the officials from RRA this week about the payment schedule and re-opening of the club.

The closure has interrupted the preparation of some tournaments which are set to be hosted by the Golf Club including The East African Challenge slated for August 25, and Rwanda Open due September 1.