The Rwandan government has recently shut down more than 5,600 churches, including 100 cave churches, citing various violations.
The move, led by President Paul Kagame, is part of a nationwide operation to enforce compliance with health and safety regulations across places of worship.
In Rwanda, where Christianity is the dominant religion, churches have long served as vital community centers.
However, the proliferation of these places of worship, many of which critics argue prioritize transactions over spiritual growth, has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of congregants, reports Premium Times.
The majority of Rwandans identify as Catholic (45%) or Protestant (35%). Despite this, the government has taken the bold step of closing down thousands of churches that fail to meet basic infrastructure, hygiene, and safety standards, or operate without proper authorization.
“This is an ongoing nationwide operation for those churches that remain non-compliant with the law,” stated Usta Kaitesi, Chief Executive of the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).
“As RGB, we are not deterred by any effort in the pursuit of having proper standards of places of worship. The idea is that people should understand that these are not healthy ways of worship.”
Kaitesi emphasized the importance of protecting worshippers, saying, “This is not just about non-compliance with the law, but it also puts the lives of the worshippers at risk.
Worshippers should not be exposed to hazards. According to the faith of most Christians, God is omnipresent; why should a worshipper risk their life inside a cave?”
The crackdown is based on a law enacted in 2018, which requires places of worship to operate in a safe and organized environment.
The law prohibits the use of loud public address systems and mandates that all preachers must have theological training before opening a church.
This legislation was introduced to ensure the safety and tranquility of worshippers.
Since the law’s enactment, this crackdown is the most extensive, with over 700 churches initially closed in 2018.
President Kagame, who recently won a fourth term in office with over 99% of the vote, has been firm in his stance that Rwanda does not need a high number of houses of worship, a figure more suitable for developed economies that can sustain them.
Despite this, RGB Chief Executive Kaitesi acknowledges that dilapidated structures and unhygienic conditions still exist, even after the crackdown.
Pentecostal churches, known for their charismatic pastors, have proliferated across Rwanda.
While some attract large crowds due to the performance of miracles and prophecies, others are poorly built and lack proper planning permission.
The Rwandan government remains resolute in its efforts to regulate the country’s places of worship, prioritizing the safety and well-being of its citizens over the unchecked growth of religious establishments.
