Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame is considering imposing a tax on church collections in response to what he describes as exploitative practices by some evangelical leaders. Kagame’s comments come amid concerns that certain religious leaders are using their influence to extort money from their followers.
During a recent address following his re-election, Kagame criticized church leaders who, under the guise of faith, manipulate their congregants for financial gain. He hinted at the possibility of taxing these collections to curb such practices. Kagame’s administration has already shut down around 8,000 churches for operating without proper authorization and failing to meet infrastructure standards.
Kagame has been vocal about the need to crack down on rogue preachers, particularly those who target the poor with promises of prosperity. The government’s actions reflect a growing concern about the rapid proliferation of churches in Rwanda, many of which prey on vulnerable citizens.
This issue is not unique to Rwanda. Other countries in East Africa, including Uganda and Kenya, are also grappling with the challenge of regulating religious organizations to prevent exploitation. In Rwanda, the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) has been actively inspecting religious institutions, with over half of the 13,000 churches inspected being closed for non-compliance. The head of the RGB, Usta Kaitesi, stated that these closures followed repeated warnings to the churches involved.
