Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde
Interesting time you would agree with me as the Rwanda Government led by President Paul Kagame announced the shutting down of several religious houses across the country as part of the 2 weeks nationwide campaign which began on July 29, 2024 to cleanse the country.
The majority of the affected faith-based organisations, according to Rwanda Governance Board (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.
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.
Recently, the Rwandan government led by President Paul Kagame did the unthinkable. The government clamped down on over 5,600 churches, including 100 cave churches. And the reason? The failure to comply with safety and health regulations, such as poor soundproofing, and the transactional nature of many places of worship.
This is not the first rodeo of the Government in clamping down on churches. After the law was enacted in 2018, over 700 churches were shut down as part of the operation then.
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.
What do you think about this step by the Rwanda Government, let’s get your view on the comment section.
