Evangelist Gregg Schoof was arrested for holding an "illegal meeting with journalists", Rwandan police said.
Mr Schoof had been due to criticise the Rwandan government for shutting down his radio station and his church.
The Amazing Grace radio station was banned last year after it broadcast a sermon that described women as "evil".
Mr Schoof's church was closed in February, among hundreds of others, for failing to comply with building regulations "and for noise pollution".
In May, Mr Schoof lost an appeal against the government's media regulator in which he had tried to reopen his radio station.
The BBC's Jean Claude Mwambutsa in Kigali said Mr Schoof had booked a venue for his press conference on Monday but the owners denied him access at the last minute.
As he stood outside talking to the media, police arrested him.
"We arrested Mr Schoof and handed him over to the Rwanda Investigative Bureau," police spokesman John Bosco Kabera told AFP news agency.
"He was arrested for holding an illegal meeting with journalists in a public space. It is illegal to hold meetings in public spaces without authorisation."
Gregg Schoof handed out a statement before police stepped in
In a press statement handed to the media before his detention, Mr Schoof said the Rwandan government had "taken a stand against God with its heathen practices".
"Christian radio illegally closed, 7,000 churches illegally closed, condoms are promoted to children in schools which promotes filth," the press release read.
He also criticised the teaching of evolution in schools and the easing of restrictions on abortion, adding: "Is this government trying to send people to hell?"
Mr Schoof has previously questioned the freedom of expression in Rwanda, our correspondent says.
His radio station was accused of "promoting division in the country" last year after it broadcast a sermon by a local pastor who said women were "dangerous creatures of evil, going against God's plans".
Mr Schoof and his family have been based in Rwanda since 2003, according to their website.
Latest Stories
-
Fifth body found after Baltimore bridge collapse
7 mins -
Atlantic Lithium to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange
11 mins -
EOCO could have done more investigations into Cecilia Dapaah’s case – GII
28 mins -
MTN FA Cup: Dreams FC to switch focus to title defence after CAF Confederation Cup elimination
42 mins -
New photo marks Princess Charlotte ninth birthday
49 mins -
Dafeamekpor files appeal against dismissal of request to compel Akufo-Addo to accept anti-LGBTQ bill
54 mins -
Group submits RTI application seeking information on BVRs for limited registration exercise
55 mins -
They accepted my lunch offer – Kwadaso MP on money given to EC officials
55 mins -
KAIPTC launches 5-year strategic plan
1 hour -
Akwaboah Jnr stuns fans with wedding announcement
1 hour -
Chiefs not mandated to rise to greet visitors – Atuguba questions Chieftaincy Ministry justification
1 hour -
‘I did not bribe anybody, my action was misconstrued’ – MP involved in Ejisu ‘envelope’ incident
2 hours -
Respect is earned, not commanded – Raymond Atuguba tells public officials
2 hours -
TikTok and Universal settle music royalties dispute
2 hours -
Failure to properly transfer gun ownership can land you behind bars
2 hours