There is no renovation works ongoing on the planned Huye International Stadium, to expand its capacity
KIGALI — August 21, 2026 — Renovation work at Huye International Stadium has stalled less than two weeks before Rwanda’s 2026-27 football season is due to begin, raising questions over whether the stadium will be ready to host league matches.
The Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) had said the renovation would be completed by August 15, but work has remained suspended for six days beyond that deadline.
The BK Pro League is scheduled to kick off on September 4, leaving less than two weeks to complete the remaining work.
The renovation is now at its final stage, with the main outstanding task being the installation of artificial turf. Most of the other work has been completed, including modifications to the stadium’s drainage system.
The drainage network was redesigned because the previous system, which had been built for natural grass, allowed large amounts of water to accumulate on the pitch during heavy rains. The new artificial surface has different drainage requirements, prompting changes to the system before the turf can be installed.
Payment dispute stalls work
Kigali Today has learned that the work was suspended after Greenfields, a Benin-based company contracted by Real Contractors Ltd to carry out the renovation, stopped work over an outstanding payment.
The company is reportedly yet to receive its final payment and is concerned it could complete the remaining work without receiving what it is owed. Its contract is scheduled to expire on September 1, 2026, just days before the new league season begins.
The development comes after RHA officials had repeatedly indicated that the project was nearing completion.
On June 25, RHA Director General Alphonse Rukaburandekwe said the project had been delayed partly because most of the required materials had to be imported.
He said all the materials had arrived and that the contractor had committed to completing the project by August 15.
“All the required materials have arrived at the site. They are currently working, and we also have an agreement with them, including a commitment that the project will be completed end of August,” Rukaburandekwe said.
He added that the delay had largely been caused by the time needed to bring materials to the site.
At the time, Rukaburandekwe said the renovation had reached 35 percent completion.
But by mid-July, when Kigali Today visited the stadium, Greenfields said the work had progressed to 80 percent and that it expected to finish by the end of August if there were no further delays.
Race against time
If the work resumes, technicians estimate that laying the artificial turf will take between 10 and 15 days.
That leaves a tight window for the stadium to be ready before the September 4 league kickoff.
The league schedule currently lists Mukura VS as the home team against Gasogi United, with the match scheduled to take place at Kamena Stadium.
Huye International Stadium has a seating capacity of about 7,900.
The renovation project began during the 2022-23 financial year and is expected to be completed in 2026. It was initially budgeted at more than Rwf16.3 billion, with about Rwf15.1 billion already spent by May 2025.
The current phase, considered the final stage of the project, was initially expected to cost more than Rwf1.5 billion. Its cost later increased after additional works were added.
Those additional works have also contributed to the delay, according to people involved in the project. They said the changes were necessary to ensure the stadium meets required standards before the artificial turf is installed.
With the league season approaching and the contractor’s agreement due to expire on September 1, the stadium now faces a race against time to complete the final works.
