Some Rwandan churches exploit vulnerable citizens instead of promoting genuine faith and development, President Paul Kagame has said, according to DW.
The German broadcaster reported that Mr Kagame, who was addressing the press on November 27 in Kigali, saw little role for churches in addressing global problems such as war and unemployment.
In August 2024, the Rwanda Governance Board shut down nearly 8,000 churches and mosques following an evaluation process.
It said many churches had failed to meet infrastructural standards, such as safety protocols, while some were allegedly operating illegally, DW reported.
The board stated that the rapid growth of some churches is driven by founders pursuing personal gain, including financial profit and property from members, while spreading misleading teachings.
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Mr Kagame urged religious institutions to focus on education, health and social progress rather than profit-making, saying the faith “should uplift people, not impoverish them,” according to DW.
Last year, DW reported that Rwanda was planning to introduce a church tax to stop ‘rogue’ pastors.
Pastors in many African countries have faced similar scrutiny. In January 2024, a BBC investigation exposed Nigerian televangelist TB Joshua for stage-managing “miracles”.
He coerced followers to surrender money and created an atmosphere where questioning his claims was treated as spiritual rebellion.
According to the investigation, vulnerable congregants were pressured to donate beyond their means, while Joshua’s inner circle tightly controlled access, testimonies and media portrayals to maintain his aura of divinity.
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Such scandals, critics argue, reveal how easily unregulated religious spaces can turn into lucrative enterprises built on fear, manipulation and spectacle—abuses Rwanda is trying to bring under control.
In neighbouring Uganda, churches are mushrooming and have gained notoriety for making noise during worship and promising members solutions to problems such as poverty and unemployment, which they never deliver.
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