Every Sunday in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, smartly dressed Christians gather at their respective churches to attend services. Singing, praying, listening to sermons and giving offerings — mostly cash — are integral to these worship sessions.

Whatever amount is raised from the offerings is typically used to pay bills for running the church and salaries for those who serve the congregation. Until now, churches in Rwanda have been exempt from paying taxes.

ADEPR stands for the Pentecostal Church of Rwanda.

However, if a plan by Rwanda's government goes through, churches could be mandated to pay tax on the offerings. The Rwanda Governance Board, the country's agency tasked with regulating religious organizations, has reportedly finished drafting a bill that could soon be tabled in parliament.

According to Rwanda's 2022 census, more than 90% of the country's population identify as Christian. However, the mushrooming of Pentecostal churches, which many critics have accused of targeting the poor by preaching the "prosperity gospel," led to Kagame's crackdown.

"The problem we have is that........

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