The outgoing state minister for sports Peter Ogwang Is in Rwanda for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs and Finals, which take place from May 22 to May 31, 2026, at the BK Arena in Kigali.
On Thursday, Ogwang shared experience with other stakeholders from the continent and also carry out benchmarking as far as sports infrastructure development is concerned.
“Away from appearing on the panel of six, I am here to learn a few things that will be part of the handover report to the incoming minister of sports in case of change. The government of Rwanda has done some commendable job in terms of sports infrastructure. Sports infrastructure and financing is an area of concern. Most of the big banks; World bank, Islamic bank, International monetary fund, African development bank, east African development bank, where we have reached as far as sports infrastructure is concerned, we need grants. Most of the governments across Africa look at priority areas and borrowing to support sports is a less priority,” he told this website.
Ogwang believes that it is high time that the big banks extend grants to support sports infrastructure development.
“And Africa as we look at it has a lot of talents and it is important that these big banks accept to work with African governments in terms of supporting sports infrastructure. I am here (in Kigali) to share experience of what we have done and we have the Lugogo arena that we want to build after Afcon 2027. This has interest in BAL to show how Uganda can host some of these games.
We have Hoima stadium arena and even in Akii Bua we have a mini arena and then we want to include a mini arena on Buhinga stadium once we get the finances and we shall continue with the multi-sports approach in the sports infrastructure
This marks the fifth time Rwanda has hosted the BAL finals championship event as part of a multi-year partnership.
“In the BAL, some teams will have permanent status. So, the main focus of the Invest Summit is to show investors that they can invest in a team, own it, and manage it professionally under the supervision of the NBA,” Clare Akamanzi, CEO NBA Africa told NBS Sport.
The tournament features the top eight teams from across the continent competing in a single-elimination bracket to crown the BAL champion. The games are a major attraction in Kigali, not only for basketball but also for the halftime concerts featuring international and local musical acts.
