The CEO of the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), Dr. Doris Uwicyeza Picard, has announced that the government will soon provide a final decision regarding thousands of churches and mosques that were previously closed for failing to meet legal requirements.
She made the remarks on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, while presenting RGB’s 2024–2025 performance report and the 2025–2026 action plan to both chambers of Parliament.
Findings From the Religious Organizations Audit
Dr. Uwicyeza explained that in the 2024–2025 fiscal year, RGB conducted an audit of faith-based organizations to assess compliance with national laws and regulations.
The assessment uncovered several issues:
- Some churches and ministries were teaching exploitative, misleading, or deceptive doctrines.
- Others were found operating without transparency, engaging in fraud, internal conflicts, or mismanaging funds.
- Several religious institutions were conducting activities in buildings that did not meet safety and legal standards.
As a result, RGB revoked the legal status of 21 religious organizations, and 9,171 worship buildings — including churches and mosques — were closed for failing to comply with the law.