This decision was part of the resolutions from the 173rd General Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Rwanda, which took place from March 11 to March 14, 2025.
The meeting brought together various bishops and was led by Antoine Cardinal Kambanda, the Archbishop of Kigali and President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Rwanda. It was attended by bishops from all nine Catholic dioceses in the country.
During the assembly, the bishops discussed several issues, including the closure of churches across the country due to non-compliance with government regulations. They also reviewed the new directives issued by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) concerning faith-based organizations.
Additionally, the meeting addressed the restructuring of the commissions and services of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, along with other important matters affecting the Church.
Following discussions on the closure of churches, the bishops noted that some have remained closed for seven months despite having fulfilled the necessary requirements. They resolved to once again appeal to the relevant authorities to allow these churches to reopen.
Furthermore, they committed to continued dialogue with government institutions to ensure a better understanding and implementation of the new regulations governing religious organizations.
The Catholic Church's request aligns with similar concerns raised by other religious denominations operating in Rwanda. Many churches, mosques, and other places of worship that were previously shut down have expressed frustration, stating that they have met the required standards but remain closed.
This issue was also highlighted by Sheikh Mussa Sindayigaya, the Mufti of Rwanda and Vice President of the Rwanda Interfaith Council (RIC), during a public meeting with President Paul Kagame at BK Arena on Sunday, March 16, 2025.
Sheikh Sindayigaya requested the President to consider reopening places of worship that now comply with government regulations, emphasizing that religious institutions should be allowed to operate if they meet the necessary requirements.
In August 2024, the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) revealed that out of the more than 13,000 places of worship that underwent inspections, approximately 59.3% were shut down for failing to meet compliance standards.
As 2025 progresses, various religious organizations have made it a priority to ensure that their closed places of worship meet the required criteria so they can resume their activities.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/catholic-bishops-in-rwanda-urge-govt-to-reopen-compliant-churches
