Ten thousand churches closed. Stadium ministries silenced. In Rwanda, worship is colliding with state power.
Rwanda has launched one of the most sweeping crackdowns on religious institutions seen anywhere in Africa in recent years, closing an estimated 10,000 evangelical churches under a regulatory campaign that President Paul Kagame has openly defended—and in some cases, bluntly endorsed.
Among the shuttered institutions is Grace Room Ministries, an evangelical movement that once drew tens of thousands of worshippers three times a week, filling major venues across the country. Its closure in May sent shockwaves through Rwanda’s Christian community, where faith remains central to daily life.
The government says the closures stem from noncompliance with a 2018 law regulating places of worship. The legislation imposes strict requirements on health and fire safety standards, financial transparency, and theological qualifications for clergy. Churches must also submit annual plans detailing how their activities align with “national values,” while all donations must pass through registered bank accounts.
President Kagame has been unapologetic. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t even reopen a single church,” he said last month, questioning the economic and social contribution of evangelical movements. Some, he argued, were “just thieving” and functioned as “dens of bandits.”
Rwanda is overwhelmingly Christian, according to the 2024 census, and the closures have forced many worshippers to travel long distances—often at significant cost—to find places to pray. Critics say the stated regulatory rationale masks a deeper political concern: control.
“There’s no rival in terms of influence,” said Kigali-based political analyst Louis Gitinywa, noting that the ruling party historically reacts sharply when independent organizations amass social power. An anonymous government official echoed that view, telling AFP that unchecked religious influence sits uneasily with Rwanda’s tightly managed political order.
The closures have disproportionately affected newer evangelical churches that expanded rapidly over the past decade. Pastor Sam Rugira, whose two churches were closed for fire safety violations, said enforcement has been uneven. “Even those who fulfilled the requirements are still closed,” said another church leader, warning that Kagame’s public disdain for churches “spells tough times ahead.”
Grace Room Ministries’ shutdown was particularly striking. Led by Pastor Julienne Kabanda, the church had been filling Kigali’s BK Arena before authorities revoked its license, citing unauthorized evangelical activities and failure to submit annual financial and activity reports. Kabanda could not be reached for comment.
Supporters of the crackdown point to Rwanda’s traumatic past. Some analysts argue churches can be exploited by extremist networks, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, a rebel group linked to perpetrators of the 1994 genocide. Political scientist Ismael Buchanan said religion has helped heal Rwanda—but warned against unchecked proliferation. “It makes no sense to have a church every two kilometres instead of hospitals and schools,” he said.
Others remain unconvinced. Pastor Rugira argued the state is “regulating what it doesn’t understand” and should work with churches rather than dismantle them wholesale.
What is clear is that Rwanda’s church closures are about more than compliance. They reflect a broader governing philosophy in which no institution—spiritual or otherwise—is allowed to rival the authority of the state. In a country where order and stability are prized above all else, faith is being reshaped to fit within tightly drawn political boundaries.
