Concern over religious sects

The Rwandan authorities have expressed concern over the number of religious sects in the country and have vowed to keep a close watch on them. Speaking in connection with the deaths of members of a doomsday cult in neighbouring Uganda, Justice Minister Jean de Dieu Mucyo said there had been “so many court wrangles” in Rwanda between sect leaders over property and finances. “Unless steps are taken to prevent this, we could easily have the same problem as the Ugandans have had,” he warned, according to the Rwanda News Agency (RNA).

“Those sects without registration should not be allowed to operate because they propagate dubious teachings based on personal material gain,” he said. He stressed that local officials would survey the activities of religious sects in the country’s prefectures and communes. RNA quoted an official from the Presbyterian church as saying there was already a “myriad of religious sects” in Rwanda which “prevent their followers from holding identification documents and doing any gainful work”.