Rwandan President Paul Kagame has urged his country’s citizens to imitate the demeanor they show when attending church sessions in other aspects as well.
The 61-year-old made the remarks in a speech at the Kigali Convention Center, where he was attending the Purpose Driven Leadership Gathering, attended by delegates from the public, private and faith based sectors.
“The only time Rwandans respect time is when they go to church. Even when it comes to cleanliness, people look their best when they go to church. I am not saying this is wrong, it is a good thing, but why don’t you apply it elsewhere,” President Kagame urged.
The president also urged Rwandans to think their actions through before engaging in them, in order to ensure the country moves in the right direction.
“We have a lot of work to do, we are not short of lessons showing us how to do it. We have more strength we should use to build the Rwandan family and make a contribution on the global scale, however small. But it starts at home,” he added.
In February 2018, the Rwandan government closed down about 700 churches in the country for failing to comply with building regulations and for noise pollution.
The move was aimed at streamlining the religious sector and to prevent quack-religious leaders from taking advanytage of their congregations.
In the new rules, all buildings of worship have to adhere to Rwanda’s building and construction standards, and religious leaders have to obtain theological training before ministering.
President Kagame was accompanied to the Tuesday forum by the country’s First lady Jeannette Kagame.
