Cricket Builds Hope (CBH) will, on Wednesday, December 31, formally hand over the ownership of Gahanga Cricket Stadium to the Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA), after eight years of transformational impact, Times Sport can exclusively report. The hand-over marks the next chapter in one of Rwanda’s most inspiring sport-for-development stories. The change of ownership comes 14 years after the charity – then known as the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation (RCSF) – began its campaign to raise £1 million (approx. Rwf 1billion) to build the country’s first international-standard cricket ground. Opened in 2017, the award-winning stadium has since become the beating heart of the sport in Rwanda. It has hosted more international T20 matches than any other ground in the world, welcoming teams from across Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America, and providing a world-class home for Rwanda’s national sides and grassroots cricket. Speaking exclusively to Times Sport ahead for the hand-over ceremony, RCA President Stephen Musaale highlighted the importance of the facility. “This is a milestone moment for Rwandan cricket. Gahanga Cricket Stadium has become our home, our pride, and a symbol of what sport can mean for a nation. In just over a decade, we have seen cricket spread to every corner of Rwanda, inspiring tens of thousands of young people, Musaale said. “Before Gahanga, we lacked a proper home for cricket in Rwanda. The stadium gave us that and a launchpad to grow the game and inspire thousands of young people. We are proud to take full responsibility of this iconic ground as we grow with every step,” he noted. RCA has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years. Just over a decade ago, organized cricket in Rwanda was played by only a few thousand people, mostly at schools in Kigali. Today, according to available data, the sport governing body’s programmes engage over 25,000 players nationwide, more than 60% of whom are under 19, with women representing around 40% of all participants. Cricket is now played in more than 100 schools, seven provinces, and through a rapidly expanding network of clubs and community hubs. Remarkably, in 2023, Rwanda qualified for the ICC Under 19 Women’s T20 World Cup, beating Zimbabwe and the West Indies at the tournament. Since opening the stadium, the Cricket Builds Hope - the international charity partner of Surrey County Cricket Club (England), officials say, has run a series of sport-for-development programmes on site. Those programmes include; among others, the groundbreaking gender-empowerment initiative delivered in partnership with Comic Relief, which supported women with life-skills training, confidence-building and leadership development. Legacy Alan Sendorek, the Cricket Builds Hope Chair, said, “When we set out to build the Gahanga Cricket Stadium, we hoped it would bring people together and open new opportunities for young Rwandans. What has been achieved since then goes far beyond what any of us imagined. The RCA has grown into one of the most dynamic cricket bodies in Africa, the national teams are competing with real ambition, and the stadium has welcomed more international T20s than any other ground worldwide, he added. As Cricket Builds Hope enters a new phase, Sendorekour acknowledged that, our mission is to secure the legacy of what has been built–ensuring that the stadium, and the development programmes it has hosted, continue to thrive.” Commenting about the stadium, the Head of Global Development at ICC, William Glenwright, noted, “I was fortunate to be at Gahanga Cricket Stadium on the day it opened, and it has been remarkable to see how it has grown into both a hub for community cricket and a thriving home for the international game. What Cricket Builds Hope and the Rwanda Cricket Association have achieved together has inspired members around the world, demonstrating how powerful partnerships can be in delivering sustainable growth at both the community and elite levels. The transfer of ownership to the RCA is a natural and positive next step in that journey, reflecting the maturity and strength of the partnership between the two organisations.” On his part, Eric Dusingizimana, former captain of the Rwanda national team, and now General Manager of Gahanga Cricket Stadium, said, “Gahanga gave us a home, a place to dream big, and a chance to play a sport that has shaped who we are. “Today, it stands not just as a stadium or community hub, but as a must-visit landmark place with its unique pavilion and design. What Cricket Builds Hope started has changed the lives of so many young Rwandans. This next chapter is incredibly exciting.” Since 2017, the stadium has been run jointly by Cricket Builds Hope and RCA, but the upcoming transfer of ownership fulfils the original vision of the charity for it to reside in Rwandan hands. As CBH hands over the stadium, the charity is now working with local stakeholders and international partners to secure a lasting legacy for its work in Rwanda from 2026 onwards. This includes exploring future collaboration models with organisations such as Cricket Without Boundaries and the MCC Foundation, both of whom are operating in Rwanda to support cricket and positive social change.
