More than 11,000 Rwandans have become addicted to alcohol, while over 500 people were hospitalized and more than 50 lost their lives in the first seven months of the year due to alcohol-related complications, according to Minister of Health Dr Sabin Nsanzimana.
Speaking in an interview with IGIHE, Dr Nsanzimana said the alarming situation prompted the government to investigate the root causes of the problem, examining everyone involved—from manufacturers and distributors to regulators and consumers.
“We all should have done something and we did not do it […] we all deserve to be held accountable, and those who do not drink them and those who monitor them in the village should play their part. Now we have all stood together.”
Alcohol addiction and health complications on the rise
Dr Nsanzimana said alcohol abuse continues to have devastating effects on public health, with hospitals receiving hundreds of patients suffering from alcohol-related illnesses.
“From January to July, we saw more than 500 people come for treatment because they drank alcohol […] they came sick and vomiting, some lost their eyesight, others were brought from celebrations in critical condition. When you investigate, it is linked to the alcohol they consumed.”
He added that more than 50 people died during the same period, while a nationwide assessment found that **nearly 11,000 people are now addicted to alcohol.
“There are more than 10,000—almost 11,000—people across the country who have become slaves to alcohol. Those are only the known cases; there are many others.”
The minister warned that alcohol abuse is also contributing to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
“We now have more people dying from non-communicable diseases than communicable diseases. We have young people developing kidney disease because of this alcohol.”
He further revealed that more than 100 people lost their eyesight in just seven months after consuming dangerous alcoholic drinks.
Government shuts down non-compliant alcohol factories
Dr Nsanzimana said investigations found widespread violations among manufacturers of the alcoholic beverages commonly known as “metal.”, “Of all those that were inspected, none fulfilled what they had signed to do.”
According to the minister, many factories lacked qualified personnel, failed to meet hygiene standards and stored raw materials improperly.
Authorities also discovered that some manufacturers falsely labeled alcohol content, with laboratory tests showing products containing much higher alcohol levels than indicated on their packaging.
“In a laboratory, you would measure and find that it said 40% but there was 70%. Some reused bottles from other companies and changed the labels. It was a network involving licensed producers, unlicensed operators and distributors.”
Illegal alcohol distribution uncovered
The minister said investigations also uncovered illegal supply chains in which alcohol intended for factories was diverted and distributed across the country.
“Motorcycles carrying jerrycans of alcohol were travelling to places like Nyagatare, Rusizi and Nyabihu. Most of this happened at night. It took extensive investigations to uncover the network.”
He said authorities traced some alcohol sold in remote areas back to factories in Kigali, revealing an organized operation driven by financial gain.
Alcohol addiction described as a trap
Dr Nsanzimana warned that producers deliberately targeted consumers with highly concentrated alcohol because it increases dependency.
“This alcoholism creates slavery. Those who produce it know exactly what they are doing. Once someone becomes intoxicated, the brain craves the same feeling again the following day. That is how people become addicted.”
He said the government’s ongoing crackdown is intended not only to remove unsafe alcoholic products from the market but also to protect public health and prevent more Rwandans from falling into alcohol addiction.
