"Only performing federations will get funding"Mukazayire
The Ministry of Sports has adopted a results-based approach to guide future financial support to national sports federations.
Speaking before members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, November 5, sports minister Nelly Mukazayire said the ministry identified eleven federations that have demonstrated strong performance and the potential to deliver better results in international competitions.
“We have put in place a strategy ensuring that no national team leaves the country for regional or international competitions without first assessing whether their participation is likely to produce results,” Mukazayire said, responding to questions about how public funds are invested and how citizens benefit from national team performances.
The minister revealed that some teams had received significant financial support, in some cases over Rwf 300 million, to cover travel, accommodation, allowances, and other expenses, yet failed to produce tangible results.
“We will no longer take the risk of funding teams that are not ready or expected to perform,” she emphasized.
The new development aims to ensure accountability and effective use of resources, following concerns about unclear financial reporting and underperformance across several federations.
Mukazayire cited the Rwanda U17 football team as an example, noting that they did not participate in last year’s CECAFA tournament due to poor preparation. Instead, the ministry redirected the funds to talent development and coaching programs.
“We used that money to identify and train better players, and now the team is ready to compete. This model will also be applied to other sports disciplines,” she said.
Apart from football, which also receives funding from FIFA and other international partners, the other federations prioritised by the ministry include volleyball, basketball, cycling, athletics, handball, sitting volleyball, karate, kung fu, swimming, and tennis.
To ensure long-term talent development, the ministry recently launched the 2025/26 Inter-School Sports Competitions, in partnership with the Ministry of Education. This initiative aims to strengthen grassroots sports and identify future national talents.
Mukazayire also announced plans to revive the Inter-University Sports League.
