Ahead of Christmas Day, different churches in Kigali and secondary cities have launched a bid to enforce new directives to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by restricting attendees who are not fully vaccinated.

The move follows the new directive by the government saying that all services held at places of worship should not exceed 50 percent maximum occupancy after Rwanda records six cases of Omicron Covid-19 variant.

In the City of Kigali and secondary cities attendees must be fully vaccinated and present their certificates before being allowed into those places of worship.

According to available figures from Rwanda Governance Board (RGB), there are over 15,465 churches in Rwanda. However, the number of churches in Kigali and the six secondary cities was not readily available by press time.

The secondary cities include Musanze, Rubavu, Huye, Kamembe, Muhanga and Nyagatare.

Reverend Canon Antoine Rutayisire, the Pastor of Remera Anglican Church told The New Times that every Christian will have to present the printed Covid-19 vaccine certificate before attending worship places starting from Monday, December 20.

"We have requested them to present their vaccine certificates either electronic or printed. Those who do have the codes can get them from Rwanda Biomedical Centre or get them through its online portal,” Rutayisire said.

Believers follow church services at St Etienne cathedral in Kigali. / Dan Nsengiyumva

Jean-Baptiste Tuyizere, the spokesperson of Zion Temple in Rwanda told The New Times that they are working with their IT team so that the church will be able to check if Christians are vaccinated.

"All our Christians are asked to adhere to Covid-19 preventive measures as guided by fresh directives. We could start using the system starting this coming week. We had already a system that helps to record attendees whenever they come for prayers and this system will now have a feature that records vaccinated attendees, the types of vaccine, and a number of doses they have got,” he said.

He added that social distancing and hand-washing must be also maintained during their services.

Célestin Hakizimana, the Bishop of Gikongoro Catholic Diocese also confirmed that no Christian will be allowed to attend mass if they are not vaccinated.

"We have put our efforts in sensitizing Christians on Covid-19 prevention including the role of vaccine,” he said allaying fears that that vaccine is driven by satanic forces following the spreading false prophecy.

Gikongoro Diocese brings together Catholic churches from Nyaruguru, Huye, Nyanza, and Karongi districts.

"We have even availed a classroom close to the church which nurses can use to vaccinate people,” he said.

He added they also put efforts in ensuring that all priests are vaccinated adding; "We have to be exemplary to Christians we serve.”

"Every Christian will have to first prove to us that they are vaccinated,” he noted.

Father Victor Karamira preaches during the mass at Saint Michel Cathedral on January 1, 2021. / Dan Nsengiyumva

The New Times spoke to different church leaders including Adventist Church, Pentecostal churches and the Muslim community on how they are enforcing the new government directive on Covid-19 prevention but many had not by press time.

Meanwhile, congregants from the Kigali-based Christian Life Assembly confirmed they had received messages pertaining to the new directives ahead of Christmas period where most Christians throng places of worship for prayers.

According to the national census of 2012, at least 43.7 percent of Rwanda's population is Roman Catholic, 37.7 percent is Protestant, 11.8 percent is Seventh-day Adventist, 2.0 percent is Muslim, 2.5 percent claims no religious affiliation, and 0.7 percent is Jehovah's Witness.

Vaccination status

Rwanda has achieved its target of administering two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to 30 percent of the population before the end of 2021.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health announced on December 19, a total of 4,731,511 people have so far been fully vaccinated, while 7,215,404 have received one dose.

Over 41,000 people have so far been given their booster jabs countrywide.

The Ministry of Health is also vaccinating children in schools aged 12 years old and above, with consent from their parents.

According to Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) officials, children will get the available doses. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is suitable for use by people aged 12 years and above.