SOUTHERN PROVINCE

MUHANGA — A rift has emerged among church leaders of Association des Eglises de Pentecôte du Rwanda commonly known as (ADEPR) threatening to split the church. Two factions have developed each accusing the other of harbouring genocide ideology.

Inside sources say the disagreement started last week— February 20-21, after Pastor Samuel Usabyimana, the acting church legal representative, allegedly called  a national ADEPR pastors’ meeting in Nyabisindu region, to sort out the ‘negative forces’ among the leading pastors.

However, other church leaders accuse Usabyimana of dividing the church along ethnic lines and promoting a clique among them. Others claim that they have been demoted because of their hard stance against his negative ideology.

A meeting called by Usabimana this week was dispersed by police on the invitation of one of the warring factions, also part of the church committee. Sources say they had prior to the meeting notified the police, the Ministry of Local Government and the Muhanga district officials.

District officials confirmed calling off of the meeting reportedly to enable the church leaders resolve their differences amicably.

"In a bid to curb the ill intensions, the concerned pastors raised complaints to the district and we are concerned about the genocide ideology allegations. That is why we have asked the pastors to resolve the issues of genocide ideology immediately,” Abedi Ruzigana Kizito, the Muhanga Mayor, told The New Times on Wednesday this week.

District officials say they have cautioned the church officials against entertaining genocide ideology. Apparently the row has also created tension among followers with some calling for government intervention.

Residents allege that Pastor Augustine Gakwaya, one of those believed to have been influential in Gacaca and fight against genocide ideology in the province, was demoted and transferred to Kibungo under unclear circumstances, a move that has created more division among Christians.

The New Times has also established that genocide ideology has been rife in the church over time. Some pastors say divisionism in their church dates back to the colonialists; and efforts to weed out the vice have been futile because of certain elements among them.

"We (pastors) recently established a committee to fight genocide ideology because we want to redeem our church. But some pastors have gone ahead to encourage divisionism and discrimination which was adopted from the Swedish church in 1940s,” said Pastor Vianney Nteziryayo.

Nteziryayo, also a member of the anti-genocide and restructuring committee, called for the resignation of pastor Usabyimana—the man at the center of the feud.

"We all know the bad history of ADEPR during the genocide era, but this is a time for change and that is why the committee was established. However, he (Usabyimana) wants to fight it…instead of understanding the changing times…of unity, reconciliation and development.”

Asked if the row was not based on recent struggles for power and financial control, Nteziryayo said: "the current ‘war’ is for the revival of the ‘old ADEPR’ and creating a divide and rule system based on the colonial experience, which we wont accept until the leaders listen to our views and vision.”

Efforts to contact Usabyimana for a comment on the allegations were futile as his mobile phone was off the whole week.

In one of the Kinyarwanda news paper -Imvaho Nshya issue 1760) the concerned pastors were quoted, saying they have submitted the case to the Ministry of Justice and Local Government in a bid to take serious measures.

Ends