Inkuru-Nziza Church mobilizing over Rwf3 billion for construction, renovation

The church has now embarked on a deliberate program of rebuilding, upgrading and rehabilitating the church premises across the country that did not meet the standards then.

In an interview with IGIHE, the Church spokesperson, Pastor Juvenal Ngendahayo said that they are mobilizing funds to construct new worship places as well as renovating closed ones.

“One of the most urgent activities is mobilizing funds and implementing recommendations so that we can be allowed to re-open,” he said.

He said that among over 90 closed places, they need at least Rwf200 million for renovation and meeting hygiene standards where each church will take at least Rwf2 million.

Ngendahayo revealed that building church headquarters that meet Kigali Master Plan will cost Rwf3 billion.

However, Ngendahayo is optimistic that in not more than one-year-and-half, the closed worship facilities will have been renovated and re-opened as they continue to mobilise funds for headquarters’ construction.

Ngendahayo revealed to IGIHE that the funds will be mobilized from followers and donors.

In a statement recently, the government said that the closure of worship places did not infringe on freedom of worship but served to address the alarming challenge of proliferation of places of worship in dilapidated and unhygienic conditions, as well as troubling behaviour of unscrupulous individuals masquerading as religious leaders.

Last month Parliament passed a law governing faith-based organisations which sets qualifications of a Bachelor’s degree in theology for an individual to head a faith-based organization.

The Government’s clampdown on illegal church structures started in March this year, affecting many, but those that took action to meet minimum standards have since re-opened.

Prior to the clampdown, government officials and church leaders in February held a meeting that resolved to urgently address the increase in places of worship that failed to meet minimum building and hygiene standards, posing serious threat to the safety of worshipers.