Nyamasheke: Five Arrested for Illegal Home Church Gatherings

Five people have been arrested in Nyamasheke District for allegedly holding illegal worship activities after turning a home into a church.

The quintet was paraded to the media on Tuesday, January 21, following their arrest on Sunday by Rwanda National Police (RNP) in collaboration with the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) and the Nyamasheke District Administration.

The home-turned-church had been named ‘Christ of the Saints Church.’

At the time of their arrest, some 20 people had already gathered at the home for the Sunday prayer service.

RNP Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga, emphasized that faith and religious practices must comply with established guidelines.

He said: “There is a national framework that sets regulations for worship practices, including where and how worship gatherings should be conducted, in adherence with the law. We initially took time to educate the public, but there are those who perceived it as a waste of time, refusing to comply with the instructions. This is why these individuals were arrested and similar operations will continue across other districts.”

ACP Rutikanga warned against illegal faith-based gatherings under trees, in the bush and tunnels, which also pose security concerns.

RIB spokesperson, Dr. Thierry Murangira, said preliminary investigations showed that the arrested individuals were directly involved in relocating a church to one of their homes.

He explained: “Among the 20 people found at home-turned-church, these five suspects including the 47-year-old homeowner, were identified as directly responsible for the illegal act. They had established a group called ‘Christ of the Saints Church,’ which is not legally recognized.”

Followers include those from churches that were closed for not meeting the safety and health standards.

Dr. Murangira reiterated that violating established laws and regulations constitutes a punishable offense.

He noted that relocating a closed church to a private home violates legal provisions, observing that reverence for God goes hand-in-hand with respecting national laws because they were established to ensure the safety and overall well-being of the people.

Murangira said: “Respecting national laws is one way to honor God. Anyone, who disregards these laws, is deemed defiant and subject to penalties. We are committed to enforcing these laws as part of our mandate.”

Nyamasheke District Mayor, Narcisse Mupenzi stated that while no one is denied the right to worship, misuse of that right disrupts others and hinders overall development, as those involved often have a backward thinking and beliefs that undermines developmental activities.

Some 490 churches in Nyamasheke District were recently closed for failing to meet legal requirements.

The Mayor added that they are reviewing whether some churches have since complied with the necessary standards before they are allowed to reopen.

Law No. 72/2018 of August 31, 2018, governing the organization and functioning of faith-based organizations, prohibits any practices that disrupt national unity, peace, security, public order, or good conduct.

Article 230 of the law determining offences and penalties in general, stipulates that anyone, who defies authority through any form of resistance, violence, or threats against government officials, law enforcement officers, or security personnel in the course of their duties, is guilty of rebellion.

If found guilty, the individual faces a prison sentence ranging from six months to one year.