Cardinal Kambanda Announces 2026 Construction Start for New Kigali Cathedral

During the Christmas Vigil Mass on December 24, 2025, Antoine Cardinal Kambanda announced that efforts are intensifying to begin the construction of the new Kigali Cathedral, with work officially scheduled to commence in 2026.

Addressing the congregation, the Cardinal emphasized that the current St. Michel Cathedral has become too small to accommodate the growing number of faithful, often requiring the use of outdoor tents during major services.

"The time has come for us to stand together and build a beautiful, spacious sanctuary," Cardinal Kambanda said. "Our current space can no longer hold everyone. We must rise to the challenge and build a cathedral where we can all celebrate together."

A Call to Action for the Faithful

The Cardinal urged Christians to coordinate with the Parish Priest of St. Michel to contribute toward the project. He noted that the new landmark will be built on land provided by the President of the Republic, located at the site of the former Nyarugenge Prison (widely known as "1930").

"I invite you this year to step forward so we can begin building a cathedral worthy of Kigali’s rapid development," he added. "Whether you can contribute a single brick or more, let us build a house of God that reflects the growth of our city."

Project Details and Vision

While Cardinal Kambanda remained reserved regarding the exact start date and the total budget—noting that technical planning is still underway—preparatory work is already in motion.

Key highlights of the project include:

• Capacity: The modern cathedral is expected to seat at least 5,000 people indoors.

• Outdoor Space: The design includes a large square capable of hosting between 10,000 and 20,000 people for major religious festivals.

• Estimated Cost: In 2023, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) indicated that approximately 40 billion RWF would be required for the project.

Historical Context

The vision for a new cathedral was first shared publicly by Cardinal Kambanda in 2019 during his installation ceremony at Amahoro Stadium.

The current St. Michel Cathedral in Kiyovu has served as the seat of the Archdiocese since May 1976. However, having originally been established as a parish in 1963, its infrastructure is no longer sufficient for the large-scale diocesan events hosted in Rwanda’s capital.

The new architectural masterpiece at the "1930" site is intended to be both a spiritual home for the Catholic community and a modern landmark for the city of Kigali.