The churches of the Eglise Pentecote Emmanuel au Rwanda(EPEMR)are said to have been closed due to its alleged teachings of division delivered to the followers. The religion regulation body connected to the Rwanda Governance Board affirms the news, adding that churches’ leaders spread the message that mislead people.
The leaders of the closed churches told Umuseke that they own officially accepted papers to hold the so-called religious gatherings.
At another side, he adds that the closing of their churches came happened in a way that surprised them as they have submitted written requests to RGB to ask for definite permission to operate in Rwanda indefinitely.
Archibishop Paul Kamuzinzi who heads the EPEMR at national level reveals that RGB is not responding to their requests, expressing his swallow feelings about the fact Police has already closed some of their gathering buildings.
As most of the EPEMR members formerly were active members of the ADEPR christian association, there are some unconfirmed reports that the ADEPR’ current elite is behind the closing of their churches due to former misunderstandings.
Churches such as the one of Nyamagabe, Rulindo, Nyanza, Gicumbi and Gisozi Polisi have already been closed by the Police as affirmed by the Rwanda National Police spokesperson Spt JMV Ndushabandi revealed to Umuseke.
He revealed that the closing of these churches happened due to the claims of discomfort delivered by the community officials.
The official in the RGB in charge of the monitoring of religious organizations Aimé Haba Barihuta told Umuseke that request permissions from EPEMR were received but what makes the situation worse is that the EPEMR teachings are embedded with division among its disciples.
For him, this can’t be allowed to keep working as it harms people’s cordial relations and threatens the national security at large.
He therefore called them to rectify the situation.
UM– USEKE.RW
