RWANDA CLAMPS DOWN ON CHURCHES

Recently, the Rwandan government led by President Paul Kagame has clamped down on over 5,600 churches, including 100 cave churches stating the churches failure to comply with safety and health regulations, such as poor soundproofing, and the transactional nature of many places of worship as the reason for its action.

Rwandan media outlet said the move is part of a two-week nationwide operation by Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), which began on 29 July.

The majority of the affected faith-based organisations, according to RGB Chief Executive Usta Kaitesi, lacked basic infrastructure and proper hygiene and safety standards, while several others were operating illegally.

“This is an ongoing nationwide operation for those churches that remain non-compliant with the law. 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.

“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?” Kaitesi said on the public broadcaster RBA.

The law in Rwanda, enacted in 2018, requires places of worship to operate in a safe and organized environment. It abolishes the use of loud public address systems and compels all preachers to have theological training before opening a church. This is a step towards ensuring the safety and tranquillity of worshipers.

Christianity is the dominant religion in Rwanda. The main denominations in Rwanda are Catholicism and Protestantism, with about 45 per cent of the population identifying as Catholic and 35 per cent as Protestant.