Religious leaders fundraise to reopen closed structures
Wednesday June 20 2018
Several churches and mosques were shut down by the govt over poor standards. PHOTO | CYRIL NDEGEYA
Church leaders in the country have turned to fundraising for money to help reopen hundreds of structures still shut following a crackdown over poor standards months ago.
In March, the government closed down more than 700 churches and 99 mosques over poor standards such as lacking parking space or sanitary facilities while others operated in former pubs, commercial premises or in residential houses.
Several newly-established churches found operating in tents or temporary shelters were told to construct standard churches and register formally.
A survey by Rwanda Today found that several churches and mosques remain shut months later as the owners are unable to raise the money needed to fix their structures as per the regulations.
According to the religious leaders, the main sources of money for most faith-based organisations remain donations, offerings and tithes largely from followers.
Sheikh Suleiman Mbarushimana, an adviser to Mufti of Rwanda said Muslim leaders needed Rwf53 million to fix more than 47 mosques, which remain closed in Kigali and in the rural areas.
He said an on-going fundraising drive had seen more than 52 closed mosques re-opened after they got Rwf47 million through donations.
Officials of the Anglican Church of Rwanda say more than Rwf200 million is needed for 100 church structures, which remain closed. More than 204 Anglican churches across the country were closed.
However, due to the fact that over 95 per cent of the funding the church uses to fund its different activities and operations come from the parishioners, the closures brought about a huge cashflow decline that affected a number of its social and education programs.
No response
Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop of Anglican Church told Rwanda Today that the funding proposals submitted to potential funders abroad had not yet received a response.
“Worshippers did fundraise on top of the Dioceses’ support because each of the closed structures needs around Rwf2 million on average. But because Dioceses depend on the money from Parishes and yet most were closed, everything else from pre-school program -- that were run at these facilities -- to staff salaries was affected,” he said.
More than 204 Anglican Church branches were closed nationwide, which affected activities of more than 196 pre-school and nutritional programs run by the church in respective communities.
Rwanda Today learnt that big churches that were already running activities ranging from humanitarian initiatives, education and healthcare services, among others have also had to cut on projects to finance works on closed structures and seek approval to reopen as they carry on extensive fundraising drive that could compensate for the gaps.
Most tally the unmet bill in hundreds of million francs.
Inspection
Officials of Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), which regulates faith-based organisations said an inspection to be carried out within the next two to three weeks would reveal a full picture of fate for closed church structures.
It is expected to come up with exact figures on those that complied with required standards and which got or await approval to reopen, as well as those that did not improvement that may face indefinite closure.
RGB has been implementing reforms that could see rules for churches registration and function made tighter, and preachers vetted prior to being allowed to practise.