Dr. Murangira B. Thierry, spokesperson for the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), announced that part of Sina Gerard’s factory responsible for producing alcoholic beverages has been shut down for producing beverages that do not meet quality standards.
He made the announcement on August 8, 2026, when people arrested for producing substandard alcoholic beverages were presented to the media.
Dr. Murangira said that among those arrested was the production manager at the Sina Gerard factory, which produces alcoholic beverages.
He said, “Sina Gerard’s factory has two sections: one for producing juices and food products, and another for producing alcoholic beverages. The section that was shut down is the one producing alcoholic beverages.”
Since inspections of alcohol-producing factories began, nearly 150 factories have been shut down, while more than 50 types of alcoholic beverages produced outside Rwanda have been removed from the market.
Figures from the Ministry of Health show that more than 50 people have died from illicitly produced alcohol, while 100 people have lost their sight, and about 11,000 people have become addicted to alcohol.
