The Government of Rwanda has granted freehold land title for 2.4 hectares in Kigali City to Masai Ujiri, Founder of Giants of Africa and President of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.

Freehold land title refers to a property title by which the owner of the land owns it for perpetuity. In other words, freehold land title ownership has no limit in time for the landowner and its beneficiaries.

Ujiri has received the land in consideration of special circumstances of strategic national interests pursuant to the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015 and the law no 27/2021 of 10/06/2021 governing land in Rwanda in its article 6.

The Presidential Order approving the freehold title to Ujiri was published in the Official Gazette of 19th July 2021after proposal by the Minister of Environment and approval by the Cabinet Meeting of 12th June 2021.

The land in plot n° UPI 1/02/13/04/972 with surface of two point four hectares (2.4 Ha) is located in Amahoro village, Rukiri II cell, Remera sector, Gasabo district in the City of Kigali.

The Presidential Order granting the land reads that Ujiri must use the land for which the freehold title is granted to serve the purpose of its allocation in conformity with the agreement signed with the Government of Rwanda and the business plan approved by competent authority, land use laws and other documents determined in accordance with relevant laws.

In case of non-compliance, the Government of Rwanda has the right to cancel freehold title for the land in accordance with relevant laws.

IGIHE has learnt that Ujiri shall use and exploit the land for setting up Ujiri Court chain of community centers to provide Boutique Hotel, community Courts, food courts, merchandise outlets, basketball and tennis courts services.

Ujili, 51, is a close friend of Rwanda who contributed to the establishment of Kigali Arena following discussions with President Paul Kagame as they watched NBA All-Star Game in Toronto, Canada.

Giants of Africa (GOA) is a basketball camp founded by Masai Ujiri as a platform to explore and nurture basketball talent among African youth.

It started in 2003 in Nigeria but in 2014 Ujiri took it outside of the country.

The renovation of the basketball court at Club Rafiki, Nyamirambo, launched on August 8, 2017 and camps to promote youth’s basketball talent since 2015 are among fruits of Ujiri’s contribution to the development of basketball in Rwanda and the African continent.

In February 2020, Kagame and Ujiri announced the Giants of Africa festival that was expected to take place in Kigali, August 2020, bringing together 11 countries.

At the time, Kagame thanked Masai Ujiri for his work with Giants of Africa and said that the camp is crucial in developing the talents of African youth.

Masai Ujiri also thanked the president for his role in the development of Africa and the way he puts into action everything he pledges, including the building of Kigali Arena.

“I thank President Kagame for his amazing work and for accepting that this camp takes place here. Africans must win because we are the winners.”

Born in 1970, Masai Ujiri is a Nigerian-Canadian professional basketball executive and former player and is the president of basketball operations of the Toronto Raptors in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

After a modest playing career, Ujiri became a scout in 2002, first for the Orlando Magic and then the Denver Nuggets. In 2008, he joined the backroom staff of the Toronto Raptors.

Ujiri returned to the Nuggets in 2010 as general manager and executive vice president of basketball operations, and helped turn the team’s fortunes around, returning them to the playoffs. As a result, he was named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2013. The following season, Ujiri returned to the Raptors as General Manager.

In the summer of 2016, Ujiri relinquished his title as General Manager to Jeff Weltman and accepted the position of president of basketball operations.

As president, Ujiri worked to usher in a period of sustained success, helping the team win its first NBA championship in 2019.

President Paul Kagame and Masai Ujiri arriving at Kigali Arena to announce the Giants of Africa festival that was expected to take place in Kigali, August 2020