He made these remarks during the celebration of the Anglican Church of Rwanda's 100th anniversary, which took place at Gahini Diocese in Kayonza District.
When asked about the progress of reopening closed churches, Dr. Mbanda explained that they are working to fulfill all the requirements and are hopeful that the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) will authorize their reopening.
'The requirements and guidelines from RGB are being implemented. We are using the Irembo platform to register all churches that meet the standards. Many have already completed this process while others are still working on it. This does not only concern the Anglican Church but applies to all churches in Rwanda that wish to reopen,' he said.
Dr. Mbanda also cautioned religious leaders and Christians against criticizing the policy of closing churches that fail to meet standards, emphasizing that the measures are meant to protect the faithful, not to serve the interests of the state.
'Sometimes we misinterpret these requirements. But they are actually for our own good. If someone tells you that a church must have toilets, proper ventilation, or sufficient lighting, those are not bad demandsâ€"they are meant to help us. It is true that some churches face financial challenges that prevent them from meeting all the requirements immediately, but difficulty does not mean they are unnecessary. In fact, they are very important,' he said.
He added: 'We need to comply step by step, patiently putting in place the necessary facilities. Once this is done, RGB will begin inspections and allow churches that meet the standards to reopen.'
Dr. Mbanda admitted that it is not easy for all churches to meet the requirements at once, but noted that the situation is improving gradually.
'Some churches struggle to raise funds, while others have pastors who do not yet meet the required educational qualifications. However, many denominations have started addressing this. For example, ADEPR has sent more than 1,000 pastors to pursue diplomas so they can meet the standard,' he explained.
He urged church leaders to fulfill the requirements, stressing that doing so benefits both the leaders themselves and their congregations.
According to RGB, a nationwide inspection in 2024 found that out of more than 13,000 churches, about 59.3% were closed for failing to meet standards. In February 2025, a follow-up inspection led to more than 20 denominations losing their licenses to operate in Rwanda.
IGIHE
