- Rwanda closed more than 4,200 churches and mosques in about a month in 2024
- Authorities cited substandard structures, unhygienic conditions and noise
- 427 of the sites were caves and riverbanks
- In 2018 more than 9,000 places of worship were shut, about 6,000 permanently
Rwanda closed more than 4,200 churches and mosques in about a month in 2024, Religion Unplugged reported in August 2024, in a report by Cyril Zenda. By July 31 the total stood at 4,223.
Officials cited substandard structures, unhygienic conditions and failure to meet noise pollution standards. Of the closed sites, 427 were caves and riverbanks used for worship. A 2018 law requires places of worship to meet construction and hygiene standards and requires religious leaders to have formal theological training. Groups must also hold registration documents from the Rwanda Governance Board.
This was not the first crackdown. In 2018 more than 9,000 places of worship were shut, about 6,000 of them permanently. Rwanda Governance Board chief executive Usta Kayitesi said the government had taken a stance against the proliferation of houses of worship.
For many small congregations, the closures meant the building they worshipped in was no longer legal to use.
Jamaica has thousands of small churches, many meeting in modest buildings, converted houses or rented rooms. Building codes, fire safety and noise rules apply to them too, and a complaint from neighbours can lead to enforcement. Rwanda’s approach is far stricter than anything Jamaica has seen, but the lesson is the same. A congregation should make sure its building is approved for public assembly, safe and suitable before inviting people in, and should factor compliance into the cost of any new site.
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