Rwanda Shuts Down Over 5,600 Worship Centres in Nationwide Crackdown

In Summary

• Rwanda has closed over 5,600 worship centres, mostly churches, citing illegal operations.
• The closures follow a two-week crackdown, enforcing 2018 laws governing faith-based institutions.
• Worship centres must meet stringent registration requirements, including permits and safety standards.
• The Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) emphasizes that affected centres had ample time to comply.
• Churches with poor infrastructure, hygiene, and without legal permits were primarily targeted.

Kigali, Rwanda – In a sweeping move, the Rwandan government has shut down over 5,600 worship centres across the country, with the majority being churches. This unprecedented action, carried out over the last two weeks, was part of a nationwide crackdown on religious institutions operating without proper legal authorization. The Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) spearheaded the closures, citing non-compliance with laws established in 2018 to regulate faith-based institutions.

The 2018 laws require that any church or place of worship must obtain a permit from the RGB before beginning operations. To secure this permit, religious organizations must submit a detailed registration application. This includes a filled application letter, a notarised constitution governing the organization’s operations, the address of its head office, and the names and addresses of its legal representatives. Additional requirements include a criminal history record of the representatives, a certificate of appointment, a summary of the organization’s doctrines, a notarised document showing acceptance of responsibility by the representatives, and minutes from the meeting that established the institution.

Furthermore, worship centres must provide a notarised document detailing their yearly plan and source of funding, proof that the worship building meets construction standards, a letter of endorsement by district authorities, and payment of registration fees. The law also mandates that the main representative of the centre must hold a university degree in religious studies, and all presiding preachers must have similar qualifications.

Strict Enforcement of Regulations

The RGB has a legal obligation to either issue a certificate of registration within 60 days of receiving an application or notify the applicant of a rejection within 30 days, along with reasons for the denial. Despite this clear legal framework, many worship centres continued to operate without meeting these requirements, prompting the recent crackdown.

One of the critical points of enforcement is the prohibition of noise pollution by worship centres. Centres found guilty of violating noise regulations face fines ranging from $400 to $500, with repeat offenders risking up to a month in prison.

Lauro Mbanda, the deputy chairperson of the Rwanda Interfaith Council, remarked that the worship centres targeted in the crackdown “knew what was expected of them.” He pointed out that these institutions had more than five years to comply with the regulations since the laws were introduced in 2018.

Non-Compliance and Safety Concerns

RGB’s CEO, Usta Kaitesi, explained that the majority of the closed worship centres had poor infrastructure, lacked proper hygiene, and safety systems, or were operating without the necessary legal permits. Kaitesi emphasized that the government’s actions were not sudden but followed a lengthy period during which these institutions were expected to comply with the established laws.

The crackdown, which began on July 29, is part of Rwanda’s broader efforts to ensure that all religious centres operate within the legal framework, providing safe and compliant spaces for worshippers. The RGB continues to enforce these laws strictly, with the goal of maintaining public safety and order across the country.