The Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) has confirmed that none of the more than 7,700 churches closed last year for failing to meet national standards have been allowed to reopen.
The update was shared by former RGB Deputy CEO, Dr. Félicien Usengumukiza, during a press briefing on June 20, 2025, where new compliance guidelines for religious organisations were introduced. He has since been replaced by the new Deputy CEO, Dr. Doris Uwicyeza Picard.
The revised guidelines aim to ensure that religious teachings align with Rwandan values and prevent messages that could incite division, promote hate, or undermine national unity. They also emphasise proper infrastructure and leadership qualifications in places of worship.
Last year, RGB inspected nearly 14,000 places of worship across the country. Out of these, 7,709 were closed for failing to meet safety and operational requirements.
“After a joint assessment with other institutions, we found that many churches posed risks to public safety. None have been reopened yet,” Dr. Usengumukiza said. He added that reopening will only be considered for churches that fully comply with the updated standards.
Kazaire Judith, the Head of Political Parties and Civil Society Organisations at RGB, said some churches were shut not only for infrastructure issues, but also for promoting misleading or divisive teachings, or being led by unqualified individuals.
To streamline compliance checks, RGB has partnered with Irembo to introduce a digital monitoring system expected to begin operating in July 2025. Churches that believe they now meet requirements will be able to apply for reassessment through the platform or directly at RGB offices.
Kazaire said a number of churches have started reporting progress toward fulfilling the guidelines, and RGB will begin reviewing them for possible reopening once the system goes live.
