HOW KIGALI UNIVERSE PROJECT WILL BOOST RWANDA INDUSTRY

Kigali Universe complex is set to begin operation May which will see at least 1000 people enjoy different sport and entertainment activities in the city of Kigali.

The project which sits on over 6000 square meters at CHIC building rooftop in the outskirts of the Central Business District (CBD) in Nyarugenge District is one of Rwanda proposed hot spot when it official opens in May later this year.

Businessman Gael Karomba said that the idea to create Kigali Universe is in line with Rwanda’s vision of positioning itself as the sports and entertainment hub of Africa, through constructing facilities that can attract big numbers of people and generate diverse tourism income for the nation.

He noted that “The reason why I got interested in building this rooftop facility is because of the passion I have for entertainment and sports, as well as my country’s vision of establishing itself as a potential alternative tourism destination. I have also seen so many facilities like this abroad and felt the need to create a similar one in my home country,”

The Kigali Universe project is expected to have a variety of indoor sporting facilities such as 5×5 international standard football pitch, 3×3 basketball court that will sometimes be turned into a boxing and UFC ring, bowling, programmed modern gym with e-biking and so forth.

Meanwhile, other facilities like indoors golf and tennis, simulation lights and speed hockey among many other arcade games and video games are also expected to be part of the projects.

According to reports, the facilities is expected to cost over $1.5 million (about Rwf2bn) after completion with the first phase set to be launched in May while the second phase will be completed in July. The plan is that the facility will be fully operational 24 hours and seven days in a week while generating jobs for over 90 people in the first phase.

Speaking to local media, when asked if noise pollution will be a problem, Mr Gael assured that there won’t be such issues since the facility is built in a non-residential area surrounded by only commercial buildings.

“Most activities in town close at 6pm here and it’s not a residential area. Again this is not a club; it’s about sports and entertainment. However, we will work closely with the City of Kigali to avoid making any sort of mistakes”.

He also said that alongside his partner Bruce Melodie, that injecting money to the project will help to transform Rwanda’s sports and entertainment industry which is currently on the rise.

The two, earlier this year, ventured into sports by financing local basketball side United Generation (UGB), in what they described as ‘making music meet sports in Rwanda’.