President Paul Kagame stated that while churches and religious institutions may reopen, the disorder previously observed must be eliminated.
During an interview with journalists, he emphasized that closed churches will be inspected, and only those meeting the required standards will reopen.
In August 2024, the Rwanda Governance Board announced that out of over 13,000 churches inspected, about 59.3% were closed for failing to meet the necessary requirements. While some worked to comply and reopened, others failed to do so.
Kagame reassured that compliant churches would be allowed to resume operations, saying authorities must verify if requirements have been met. He noted, “I don’t see this as a serious issue. It’s simply about implementing what needs to be done.”
He added that Churches shouldn’t become a problem. “This seems to be an issue mostly in Africa. People must focus on ensuring proper standards and orderly operations.”
