EFFECT OF RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF LARGE-SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, A CASE OF NEW KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROJECT, IN BUGESERA DISTRICT, RWANDA

Background: However, multiple regression results showed that risk mitigation had a positive and statistically significant effect on project performance (β₃ = 0.511, p = 0.000), as did risk monitoring and control (β₄ = 0.252, p = 0.006) and risk governance (β₅ = 0.795, p = 0.039). The study concluded that risk mitigation, risk monitoring and control, and risk governance were the key risk management practices contributing to project performance, while risk identification and assessment, despite their positive associations, did not independently predict performance significantly. Objective: This study examined the effect of risk management practices on the performance of the New Kigali International Airport Project in Bugesera District, Rwanda. Of the 141 questionnaires distributed, 115 were properly completed and returned, representing an 81.5% response rate. Methods: A mixed research design was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three key informants: the project coordinator, risk officer, and senior engineer. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Correlation results revealed strong and statistically significant positive relationships between project performance and risk identification (r = 0.727, p = 0.000), risk assessment (r = 0.746, p = 0.000), risk mitigation (r = 0.650, p = 0.000), risk monitoring and control (r = 0.722, p = 0.000), and risk governance (r = 0.720, p = 0.000). In contrast, risk identification (β₁ = 0.031, p = 0.943) and risk assessment (β₂ = 0.090, p = 0.802) had positive but statistically insignificant effects. Results: The findings showed that risk management practices were highly implemented, with mean scores of 3.72 for risk identification, 3.69 for risk assessment, 3.53 for risk mitigation, 3.49 for risk monitoring and control, and 3.51 for risk governance. Conclusion: Project performance also recorded a high overall mean of 3.55.