More than 2,000 churches affiliated with the Pentecostal Church of Rwanda (ADEPR) remain closed after failing to meet legal and governance requirements set by the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), church leaders have said.
ADEPR officials disclosed that at least 2,171 of the church’s congregations were shut down following nationwide inspections of places of worship.
The disclosure was made during a media briefing ahead of ADEPR’s 85th anniversary celebrations, scheduled for December 20, 2025.
According to the church, ADEPR operates a total of 3,141 congregations across the country, but only 970 are currently open. The remaining churches were closed after failing to comply with regulatory standards related to governance, infrastructure and safety.
Deputy Senior Pastor Eugène Rutagarama said the church is working closely with state institutions to ensure compliance and reopen affected congregations.
“More than 2,000 of our churches are closed because they did not meet the requirements, but we are making progress to ensure they comply and resume operations,” Rutagarama said, adding that some congregations have been merged to strengthen capacity and meet standards.
ADEPR Senior Pastor Isaie Ndayizeye said 27 churches have already fulfilled the requirements and are awaiting final approval to reopen, while others are undergoing inspections.
The closures are part of a broader government crackdown on non-compliant faith-based organisations.
Since 2024, RGB has inspected 13,770 church and mosque buildings nationwide, closing 9,171 for violating legal and governance regulations. The inspections also resulted in the deregistration of 21 faith-based organisations.
In November, RGB Chief Executive Officer Doris Uwicyeza Picard told Parliament that the regulator had intensified engagements with religious leaders to improve governance and ensure compliance with the law.
She said 84 organisations have applied for reopening after meeting requirements, though some were asked to make further improvements and others remain under review.
Authorities say places of worship will only be allowed to reopen once they fully comply with legal, safety and governance standards.
