Kigali, Rwanda — In a landmark administrative decision, the leadership of the Pentecostal Church of Rwanda (ADEPR) has officially stripped 35 individuals of their pastoral and evangelistic duties due to their convictions and involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The decision, communicated on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, by ADEPR Senior Pastor and Legal Representative Isaïe Ndayizeye, finalizes deliberations from the General Council of Pastors held late last year and early this year. The list includes high-profile figures already serving life sentences, as well as fugitives currently residing abroad.
The Historical Context: The Church’s Darkest Hour
To understand the weight of this announcement, one must look back at the complex and tragic role of religious institutions during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Itangazo rigenewe Abanyetorero b'Itorero ADEPR. pic.twitter.com/L7ZVZoO0FQ
— ADEPR Church (@adeprrwanda) March 18, 2026
- A Betrayal of Sanctuary: Historically, Rwandan churches were considered inviolable sanctuaries. However, in 1994, many Tutsi who fled to church compounds for safety were systematically massacred. In several documented cases, pastors and priests colluded with the Interahamwe militia and government forces, locking the doors and handing over their own congregants to be slaughtered.
- ADEPR’s Reckoning: ADEPR is one of the largest and most influential Christian denominations in Rwanda. During the genocide, ADEPR parishes—such as those in Nyabisindu (Muhanga) and Kayenzi (Bugesera)—became sites of horrific killings. In 2016, the ADEPR leadership formally apologized for the complicity and direct involvement of some of its members and leaders. This 2026 defrocking is a continuation of that institutional cleansing.
Spotlight on Key Figures
The 35 individuals named in the church’s statement fall into two main categories: those who have faced justice and are serving time in Rwandan correctional facilities, and those who remain at large in the diaspora.
| Name | Former Role & Location | Current Status |
| Jean Uwinkindi | Pastor, Eastern Province (Kanzenze/Bugesera) | Serving a life sentence at Nyanza Correctional Facility. |
| Matayo Ngezahayo | Pastor, Southern Province | Detained at Mpanga Correctional Facility. |
| Aloys Habimana | Evangelist, Eastern Province | Serving sentence at Ngarama Correctional Facility. |
| Simon Pierre Gatera | Pastor | Residing in Belgium. |
| Cyprien Gakwerere | Pastor, Southern Province | Residing in Uganda. |
| Amoni Munyeboyi | Pastor | Residing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). |
The Precedent of Jean Uwinkindi
Uwinkindi is arguably the most notorious figure on the list. He was the head pastor of the ADEPR church in Kanzenze. Following the genocide, he fled the country but was later arrested in Uganda and transferred to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha. In a historic 2012 precedent, the ICTR transferred his case back to the Rwandan national court system—a major vote of confidence in Rwanda’s post-genocide judiciary. In 2015, the High Court convicted him of murder and extermination as crimes constituting genocide, sentencing him to life in prison.
Why This Matters in 2026
More than three decades after the genocide, one might ask why this specific administrative step is happening now.
- Institutional Integrity: While criminal courts handle the legal consequences, religious institutions must handle the spiritual and administrative ones. Revoking these titles ensures that these individuals can no longer claim moral authority, lead congregations, or associate their actions with the church.
- Calling Out Fugitives: By explicitly naming individuals residing in Uganda, Belgium, and the DRC, ADEPR is shining a spotlight on genocide fugitives who continue to evade justice. It is a known issue that some fugitives have used their religious titles abroad to integrate into new communities, gain sympathy, or even spread genocide denial.
