The update was shared by Dr. Usengumukiza Félicien, RGB's Deputy CEO, during a press briefing on June 20, 2025, where new guidelines were unveiled.
The new guidelines are intended to ensure that religious teachings align with Rwandan values and include related regulations.
The guidelines aim to promote responsible conduct in religious preaching and to prevent the spread of messages that may incite division, promote hatred, or undermine the core values of Rwandan society.
Last year, RGB inspected nearly 14,000 places of worship, and 7,709 were closed due to various issues deemed to pose a risk to the safety and well-being of congregants.
'You may recall that across the country, we had about 14,000 places of worship. After conducting a joint inspection with other agencies, around 8,000 were closed because they failed to meet requirements and posed a threat to public safety. They have not been reopened," Dr. Usengumukiza explained.
He emphasised that any churches that address the issues that led to their closure will be eligible for reopening, but this will be done in accordance with the new guidelines, which aim to eliminate ambiguity and provide a clear, objective process, rather than decisions driven by emotion.
Kazaire Judith, the head of RGB's Department for Political Parties and Civil Society Organisations, explained that beyond structural concerns, some churches were also found to be teaching misleading doctrines, spreading divisive messages, or being led by individuals who lacked the necessary educational qualifications.
She added that, in partnership with Irembo, a digital platform has been developed to streamline the process of assessing whether churches meet the required standards. The system is expected to go live in July 2025.
'The system is nearly complete. We expect it to be fully operational by early July. The portal is available, but those who have complied with the regulations can also directly approach the institution and present their case for review,' she said.
Kazaire revealed that so far, no faith-based organisation (church or denomination) has formally notified RGB that it has fulfilled the requirements for reopening.
She urged leaders of religious organisations to review the requirements, comply with them, and submit their reports to RGB so that eligible churches can be reopened.
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