The Archbishop of Kigali and President of the Rwanda Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Antoine Kambanda, has called on the Minister of Youth and Arts Development, Dr. Utumatwishima Jean Nepo Abdallah, to advocate for the reopening of some churches that were closed during the government’s inspection of places of worship but have since addressed the issues that led to their closure.
Cardinal Kambanda made the call on August 23, 2026, during the closing ceremony of the Catholic Youth Forum, which brought together more than 5,000 young Catholics from all nine dioceses of Rwanda.
The forum, which began on August 19, was held under the theme “We are witnesses of hope, fraternity and peace,” with discussions and activities aimed at strengthening young people’s faith, unity and positive contribution to Rwandan society.
Cardinal Kambanda said young people should not be viewed as a problem, arguing that with proper guidance and commitment, they can become an important force in building the country.
“There is no such thing as a bad child. When young people are not abandoned, they do not cause problems, but sometimes they are influenced by people who seek to mislead and distract them.”
He said the Catholic Church plays an important role in reaching young people and supporting them in their spiritual and moral development, but the closure of some churches has made it difficult for the Church to maintain contact with young people in certain communities.
Addressing Minister Utumatwishima, Cardinal Kambanda asked the government to consider advocating for the reopening of churches that have made the necessary improvements.
“Honourable Minister, regarding the many churches that were closed, we have done much of what needed to be corrected. We ask you to advocate for us. There are young people whom we can no longer reach because the places where they used to worship have been closed.”
He said reopening compliant churches would enable religious institutions to reconnect with young people, particularly those who may be facing challenges or are at risk of becoming involved in harmful activities.
“Reopening these churches would enable us to reach them. There are places we can no longer access, and it is painful to find that some young people have already gone too far into activities that harm them. We ask that we work together so that we can reach them.”
The call comes after a nationwide inspection of churches and other places of worship to assess compliance with legal and safety requirements.
The inspection examined issues including the safety of worshippers, hygiene, building standards, documentation and other requirements governing places of worship.
The Rwandan government said more than 14,000 places of worship were inspected across the country. More than 8,000, representing about 70 percent of those inspected, were found not to meet the required standards and were subsequently closed.
However, the government clarified that the closure of a place of worship did not automatically mean that the religious denomination or organisation associated with it had itself been banned.
Cardinal Kambanda’s appeal therefore focuses on churches that, according to him, have taken steps to address the shortcomings identified during the inspections.
The Catholic Youth Forum brought together young people from Rwanda’s nine dioceses for several days of activities focused on faith, fraternity, unity and social responsibility.
The forum concluded on Sunday, August 23, with Cardinal Kambanda encouraging young Catholics to become active contributors to peace and hope in their communities.
The event’s theme, “We are witnesses of hope, fraternity and peace,” reflected the Church’s call for young people to play a constructive role in strengthening social cohesion and contributing to the well-being of Rwandan society.