Rwandan President Paul Kagame has criticized religious leaders for failing to fulfill their responsibilities, accusing some of exploiting believers for personal gain.
Speaking at an event in the capital, Kigali, on Wednesday March 25th, 2026, Kagame said certain individuals use religion as a cover to manipulate and defraud followers.
“You find someone hiding behind religion, hiding behind a church, setting up something that is only meant to serve their own interests and rob others,” Kagame said. “Everything becomes something anyone can just put up… pretending to be what you are not, and then starting to take away people’s property.”
His remarks sparked debate online, with some users supporting his stance. One commenter wrote: “Faith is for service, not exploitation. Religious institutions should uplift communities with integrity and compassion.”
Thousands of Churches Remain Closed
Since 2018, Rwanda has shut down thousands of churches, citing concerns over safety, sanitation, and compliance with regulations governing places of worship.
In 2024 alone, authorities closed at least 8,000 denominations and prayer houses. By 2025, more than 10,000 evangelical churches had been shut for failing to meet requirements under a 2018 law, according to government figures.
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The move has drawn criticism from some experts and rights groups, who argue that the closures could threaten religious freedom and have called on authorities to reconsider.
However, Kagame has defended the crackdown, saying it is aimed at restoring order rather than targeting religion.
“If it were up to me, I wouldn’t even reopen a single church,” he said during a press conference in November 2025.
The president also questioned the role of some churches in addressing broader societal challenges.
“In all the development challenges we are dealing with — wars, our country’s survival — what is the role of these churches? Are they providing jobs?” Kagame asked. “Many are just thieving; some churches are a den of bandits.”
He insisted the government’s actions are intended to protect citizens from exploitation.
“Putting things in order is not persecution,” Kagame said. “Religion should exist to teach, to guide citizens, and to help them — not to take what belongs to them so that a few individuals become rich.”
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May God keep his church all over the world.
Amen!
Well im thankfull to Jesus,for he distroyed the first temple.And in three days he rebuilt a new temple .Of which He him self lives in me.Nolonger in the temple or church as we may think.So H.E the Presindent Poul Kagame dint close the church .But only closed worship centers.coz of wrong dowers.So let security do its work, and put the house in order.To my feeling he knows verywell , he can not fight GOD.And God loves Rwanda for its where God sleeps during the night.IMANA YIRIRWA AHANDI IKARARA MU RWANDA.