Rwandan authorities have banned the operations of 43 religious groups across the country, effective August 28, following a recent wave of church closures. This decision comes after the government shut down thousands of unauthorized churches in recent weeks.
In a statement from the Ministry of Local Government, district leaders were directed to enforce the ban. The ministry explained that an ongoing assessment had found that the affected faith-based organizations were violating existing regulations. “The assessment revealed that these organizations were not adhering to the legal requirements, which is why we have taken this action,” the ministry noted.
The majority of the banned groups are from Pentecostal denominations, including the Lutheran Church, which was established in Rwanda in the 1990s to continue the missionary work initiated by German missionaries.
The ban was announced on Thursday, following the closure of over 5,000 churches accused of failing to meet the required legal standards and endangering the lives of worshippers. “We cannot allow places of worship to operate if they are putting people at risk,” the government emphasized.
At the end of July, authorities reported that more than half of the over 13,000 churches inspected were closed due to non-compliance with regulations. This latest crackdown echoes actions taken in 2018, when over 700 churches operating illegally were shut down.
Under Rwandan law, all preachers are required to have theological training before establishing a church. The government had given church leaders a five-year period to meet the necessary legal standards, but many reportedly failed to comply.
President Paul Kagame, who recently commented on the government’s efforts to regulate churches, implied that some religious leaders exploit and defraud their followers under the guise of serving God. “We need to ensure that these organizations are genuine and are not taking advantage of vulnerable people,” Kagame stated, also suggesting the possibility of taxing church donations.
Roughly 40% of Rwanda’s population is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, but there has been a notable rise in Pentecostal churches across Africa, often led by charismatic preachers promoting the prosperity gospel. Authorities have expressed increasing concern over the motives of certain religious organizations.
