Gahanga International Cricket Stadium

The Gahanga International Cricket Stadium stands on a 4.5-hectare site in the Kicukiro district of Kigali, Rwanda. It was built by the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Foundation. The foundation was led by cricket enthusiasts from the UK, including Alby Shale and Christopher Shale, and Rwanda, with General Manager Eric Dusingizimana. Architectural and construction design was undertaken by Light Earth Designs LLP, which utilized local labor and materials such as compressed soil-cement tiles and local granite for the pavilion and facilities. The stadium was completed in March 2017 and officially inaugurated in October 2017. It is Rwanda's first dedicated international cricket ground. The stadium has an official seating capacity of 10,000 spectators, though some sources cite a range of 5,000–10,000. This capacity has remained consistent since its opening. The playing surface is natural grass, specifically a modern grass pitch planted with Bermuda Grass, which is noted for having an ICC international quality wicket. The venue is the primary home ground for the Rwanda national cricket team (both men's and women's sides). It does not host domestic club teams but serves as a regional hub for international matches. Notable events include hosting the annual Kwibuka Women's T20 Tournament since 2014 (with a break in 2020), the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, the 2022–23 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier, and the Africa Continental Cup 2024. In December 2024, Uganda defeated Nigeria in the final of the Africa Continental Cup. The stadium gained significant attention during the 2019 Kwibuka Tournament when Uganda scored 314/2 against Mali, setting the highest team total in Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) history at the time and the first 300-run score in any T20I match. In the same match, Mali was bowled out for 10 runs, setting the record for the lowest team total in a WT20I. Earlier in the tournament, Mali had been bowled out for 6 runs by Rwanda, which was then the lowest total in a completed T20I. By November 2022, the stadium had surpassed the Harare Sports Club to become the cricket oval hosting the most T20I matches in Africa, with over 128 men's and 91 women's T20Is played as of early 2026. The construction was partially funded by a Guinness World Record set by Rwanda captain Eric Dusingizimana, who batted for 51 continuous hours in 2016. The stadium is often referred to as the "Lord's of East Africa." No specific attendance record figures were found in available sources.