The Archdiocese of Kigali has called upon members of the Catholic Church—particularly worshippers at Saint Michel Cathedral—to prepare and contribute to the construction of a new Kigali Cathedral, which will be built on the site of the former central prison known as “1930.”

Construction of the cathedral is scheduled to begin in 2026. The project will align with the Kigali City Master Plan and Vision 2050, and is expected to incorporate Rwanda’s cultural and historical identity. Notably, the design will reflect the site’s past as a major prison established during the colonial era in 1930.

The announcement of this landmark cathedral project was made by Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, Archbishop of Kigali, during the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass on December 24, 2025. The Mass was held at the current Saint Michel Cathedral in Kiyovu.

Cardinal Kambanda explained that significant efforts are already underway to realize the project, noting that the existing cathedral is over 50 years old and no longer able to adequately accommodate the growing number of faithful.

Currently, during major religious celebrations, the cathedral is forced to hold up to four Masses a day due to congestion.

“When we look at our cathedral, it is clear that nearly 50 years have passed,” Cardinal Kambanda said. “Since 1976, when Christmas was first celebrated at the bishop’s seat here at Saint Michel Parish, the church has become too small and no longer meets the demands of our time.”

He expressed deep gratitude to the Government of Rwanda and President Paul Kagame in particular for allocating land to the Catholic Church for the construction of the new cathedral, noting that it will enable large numbers of believers to gather together for prayer and major liturgical celebrations.

The Cardinal called on all Christians—especially those in the Archdiocese of Kigali—to begin preparing and actively participating in the project, encouraging everyone to contribute according to their means.

“Let us start by approaching our parish priests; whoever has a brick should bring it,” he said. “Together, let us build a church worthy of the fast-growing City of Kigali.”

Once completed, the new cathedral is expected to seat at least 5,000 people, with spacious outdoor areas capable of accommodating between 10,000 and 20,000 worshippers during major religious events.