About 700 churches have been closed down only in Kigali for failing to comply with building regulations and for noise pollution.
Most of them are small Pentecostal churches. One mosque was also closed.
According to a proposed new law, all preachers must have theological training before opening a church.
Pentecostal churches, often run by charismatic preachers claiming to be able to perform miracles, have grown rapidly in many parts of Africa in recent years.
Some are massive, attracting thousands of worshippers each Sunday, but others consist of tiny structures built without planning permission.
Church leaders have at times been criticized for using loud public address systems to attract worshippers.
According to RGB, there are 1,351 registered churches in the city, but several others could be under crackdown for illegally operating in the City’s three districts; Kicukiro, Gasabo and Nyarugenge.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the national leadership retreat in Gabiro on March 1, 2018, he wondered why there were churches than boreholes in the country.
“Seven hundred churches in Kigali? Are these boreholes that give people water?” asked President Paul Kagame when he heard that more than 700 churches had been closed down by authorities.
“I don’t think we have as many boreholes. Do we even have as many factories? But 700 churches, which you even had to close? This has been a mess!”
Closing down churches has not ended in the capital city but rather it went beyond even in the districts of different Provinces in Rwanda.
The Express News Rwanda has visited Ngoma District, and find that most of newly born again churches were closed down. For insistence in Mugesera sector, local authorities lead by executive secretary of the sector ,Mugirwanake Charles, decided to close down 21 out of 27 churches.
In Rukumberi Sector also 16 out of 34 churches were closed down.
Some Church followers accept that they are some churches that deserved to be closed due to building fallacies.
Over 90% of Rwanda’s population are Christian, according to US State Department figures, while less than 5% are Muslim.
Below find the Pictures of churches closed down in Ngoma district
The Express News
