Rwanda Cracks Down on Rogue Churches: Kagame Considers Tax on Donations to Curb Extortion
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has vowed to take action against unscrupulous religious leaders who exploit their followers for financial gain. In his first speech since re-election, Kagame condemned evangelical clerics who misuse their positions to manipulate and extract money from individuals.
Kagame threatened to introduce a tax on church donations if religious leaders continue to fleece their followers. “We can’t allow these unscrupulous people to use religion to exploit the vulnerable,” he said.
The move comes after Rwandan officials shut down approximately 8,000 unauthorized churches that failed to meet infrastructure standards. Kagame aims to target more unregulated religious leaders and their places of worship.
The proliferation of Pentecostal churches in Rwanda has raised concerns, with many adopting the prosperity gospel doctrine that attracts poor worshippers. Kagame criticized these churches for enriching their owners while squeezing the last penny from poor Rwandans.
Rwanda is not alone in grappling with the challenge of regulating preachers. Uganda plans to release a white paper on regulating worship, while Kenya’s judiciary is dealing with a case of religious manipulation that led to deadly fasting.
