Faith-based organisations have one year to have complied with new regulations relating to additional requirements, including getting at least 1,000 signatures from residents in the district they want to operate in, and buildings exclusively dedicated to worship activities, according to Rwanda Governance Board (RGB). ALSO READ: Closure of non-compliant faith-based organisations: What are the essential requirements? Speaking at a meeting with religious leaders, on Friday, March 21 in Kigali, RGB Chief Executive Doris Picard Uwicyeza said the new regulations are meant to ensure that faith-based organisations operate in a transparent environment, and effectively contribute to the welfare improvement for their followers. “We want to facilitate you in any possible way so that you meet the requirements,” Uwicyeza told the religious leaders. She said more engagements are needed for better understanding the regulations, and easing faith-based organisations’ access to building assessment and permit issuance services. ALSO READ: RGB revokes legal status of 20 faith-based organisations Among the prerequisites, a faith-based organisation applying for collaboration with a district or the City of Kigali submits to RGB documents including a certificate of building compliance confirming that the building designated for worship activities, complies with the legal construction requirements for the location in which the organisation operates issued by competent authority. They also include a list of at least 1,000 members of the community where the organisation intends to operate, supporting it with their signatures, national identification or passport, and telephone numbers. Judith Kazaire, Head of Civil Society and Political Organisations Department at RGB, explained that the requirement for signatures is meant to encourage citizen participation, in line with Rwanda’s commitment to involving citizens in decisions that affect them, such as in planning, budgeting, and other programmes. “For a church or mosque to be set up, it is good that citizens have a say in the matter,” Kazaire said, pointing out that a person proposing to build such religious facilities should explain their plans to the community, ensuring that the project will benefit their well-being. Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, Chairperson of Rwanda Inter-Religious Council (RIC), pointed out that some of requirements could be obtained in 12 months. He added that for those that will not have been fulfilled within 12 months, the underlying factors will be identified, expressing optimism that the government will be understanding in that regard. “I think these regulations have a good intention for us to operate in an orderly manner and be aligned with our country’s vision,” Mbanda said.
