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President Kagame criticizes proliferation of churches in Rwanda
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has once again spoken out against the uncontrolled rise of churches in the country, warning that many are founded not for spiritual purposes but to exploit citizens financially.
Speaking at a press conference on November 27, 2025, Kagame questioned the role of churches in addressing global and national challenges such as wars, unemployment, and poverty.
“Most of them are thieves! I see only banditry in these churches. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t open a single one,” he said bluntly.
Thousands of Churches Closed
In August 2024, Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) reported that out of 14,000 churches inspected, 7,709 were closed for failing to meet basic standards.
RGB explained that many churches were established for personal gain, including collecting money and property from followers, spreading misleading teachings, and other abuses.
Kagame’s Position
Kagame argued that churches contribute little to solving pressing issues:
“In all these wars and challenges the world faces, what role do churches play? Do they create jobs? Colonizers misled you, and you continue to be misled. Instead of endless church talk, go farm, go raise livestock.”
He stressed that while some churches were reopened after meeting requirements, many remain shut — and he sees no problem with that.
“Pray on Your Phone”
Kagame even suggested that prayer does not require physical buildings:
“If you want to pray, do it on your phone. Do you even know where religions came from? We want to put things in order without hurting people, but honestly, too few were closed.”
This is not the first time Kagame has criticized the mushrooming of churches. In August 2024, he described the situation as chaotic and manipulative.
Earlier in 2025, he noted that some churches had been allowed to reopen after meeting standards, but insisted that Rwanda must prioritize productive work and social development over unchecked religious expansion.
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