Grapevine

Kagame considers tax on church collections to combat exploitative practices

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has proposed introducing a tax on church collections as part of a broader crackdown on exploitative practices by some evangelical preachers.

In his first address after taking a new oath of office this week, the Rwandan head of state, strongly criticised church leaders who masquerade under the cover of God to manipulate and “squeeze money” from people.

“These unscrupulous people who use religion and churches to manipulate and fleece people of their money and other things, will force us to introduce a tax, so churches pay tax on the money they get from people,” he said.

Rwandan authorities said this week they had closed down about 8,000 churches for operating illegally and not fulfilling infrastructural requirements.

Speaking after presiding over the swearing-in ceremony of the re-appointed Prime Minister, Edouard Ngirente, and new members of parliament, Mr Kagame said he would go for more rogue preachers and their churches.