By Seif Gracien Hasingizwimana/Kigali/Rwanda
The President of the Republic, Paul Kagame, has reaffirmed that religions and churches should increasingly demonstrate a tangible role in promoting the welfare of citizens, rather than being a means to seek personal gain from followers.
He made these remarks this Wednesday, March 25, 2026, during an Iftar dinner marking the end of the Ramadan fast with the Muslim community in Rwanda, where he addressed the conduct of certain religious leaders who mislead people for their own interests.
He stated: “Religions and churches should first function properly as they ought to. You find someone hiding behind religion to establish something aimed at personal gain and dispossessing others of their property; that is different from persecuting religions.”
President Kagame pointed out that a religion has the responsibility to be close to the people and assist them in their daily lives—including promoting education, health, and general social welfare—rather than exploiting them.
He added: “A religion is responsible for teaching and reaching out to the citizens to help them, establishing ways to advance education, health, and other sectors. However, I have found that within religions and churches, there is fraud.”
The Head of State also revisited the government’s measures to close prayer houses that do not meet the required standards, explaining that they are aimed at streamlining the operations of this sector and protecting citizens from those who deceive them with promises of miracles.
He said: “There are standards that must be followed. For that person who starts a religion in the morning, spends the whole day looting, and by evening you can’t find where they’ve disappeared to—some misunderstood this and began saying that Rwanda persecutes religions and churches. But our job is to put things in their proper order.”
In his address, President Kagame also commended the role of the Rwanda Muslim Community (RMC) in promoting unity and development. He pledged support for their major projects, which include building a model mosque and a headquarters that will integrate various activities, including a clinic, commercial buildings, and recreational facilities.
He promised that this support would be provided no later than the year 2026 and indicated that he would return to see the impact of these projects on the development of Rwandans’ lives.
This reinforces the government’s vision to continue streamlining the operations of all sectors, including religions, with the aim of building a society based on transparency and integrity, while protecting citizens from fraudulent activities carried out in the name of faith.
