President Kagame Closes Down 6,000 Churches in Rwanda

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has stirred a controversy after closing down about 6,000 churches in Rwanda and introducing a new regulation for pastors and churches.

President Kagame frowned at the way and manner churches are being run and said, churches cannot be turned into business while he is in power.

He claimed there were too many churches , much more than schools and industries in Rwanda with many fake pastors on prowl using the church to extort money from its members. He closed down 6,000 churches that had refused to comply with the new regulations and vowed to close down more.

President Kagame said he was surprised at the number of churches in the small East African country.

Rwanda’s government during the administration of President Kagame has shut down a total number of 6,000 churches and 100 mosques over the years and closed down 700 churches for noise pollution in 2018.

The closures came after the Rwanda Governance Board (RGO) conducted the national review of proposed new regulations controlling faith-based institutions, requirements that pastors have theological education.

To eradicate fake ministries, reduce fake pastors and stop pastors turning churches into business, President Kagame introduced new rules that majority of the pastors and churches could not meet, and said there was no option but to close down the 6000 churches.