The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has paraded 18 people, including Prof. Emile Bienvenu, the Director General of the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA).
Prof. Emile Bienvenu was among those presented by RIB on August 13, 2026. All those paraded are government employees, including 10 from Rwanda FDA.
Others include employees of the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), as well as Executive Secretaries of cells and sectors.
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Ten Rwanda FDA Employees Arrested
The 10 Rwanda FDA employees include Dr. Nyirimigabo Eric, Head of the Food Division; Dr. Nyamwasa, Head of the Inspection Division; Christian Namahoro, a specialist responsible for licensing food-processing companies; Muhimpundu Alice, a specialist in inspecting food storage facilities and points of sale; Kangabe Benitha, a specialist in food technology and inspection; and Uwamahoro Elizabeth, a specialist in food safety and monitoring its implementation.
Also arrested are Niyigena Claudine, a specialist in inspecting food storage facilities and points of sale; Ndayishima, a specialist responsible for post-market surveillance of medicines for human use; and Nizeyimana Janvier, a specialist in the engineering of food-processing industries.
Investigation Linked to Substandard Alcohol Production
RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry said that since July 20, 2026, a total of 104 people have been arrested in connection with offences related to the production of substandard alcoholic beverages.
Of these, 97 have had case files prepared and submitted to the Prosecution.
Alleged Irregular Licensing Procedures
He said: “The preliminary investigation established that some licenses had been issued without being based on the decisions of the Internal Technical Licensing Committee. We clearly established that the committee’s decision is what should have guided the process.”
Dr. Murangira cited an inspection where a juice-extracting machine was found to be heavily rusted but the factory still received a license to operate.
He explained that on April 23, 2026, a Food Business Operations License (FBO) was issued before the Internal Technical Licensing Committee had reviewed the application.
When the committee later examined the inspectors’ report on May 19, it concluded that the factory should not have been licensed.
RSB Officials Also Arrested
Among those paraded by RIB are Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) employees responsible for issuing quality certification documents.
They include Mporanzi Samuel, Head of the Department responsible for issuing national quality certification; Kanyange Celine, Head of the Department responsible for product quality certification; and Kabanda Eric, Head of the Department responsible for systems quality certification.
Three RSB employees are being investigated over the issuance of the S-Mark certification to more than 18 companies whose products allegedly did not meet Rwanda FDA requirements.
According to investigators, some products carried the S-Mark despite lacking the necessary approvals from Rwanda FDA.
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Abuse of Office and Failure to Perform Duties
Dr. Murangira explained that several quality-control officials are suspected of abusing their positions for personal gain and failing to carry out their responsibilities.
Normally, inspectors have the authority to seize products that do not meet required standards. However, investigators allege that some officials deliberately ignored violations and allowed unauthorized businesses to continue operating.
More Than 150 Factories Closed
The arrests come after more than 150 factories producing substandard alcoholic beverages were shut down across Rwanda.
Investigators believe some operators continued generating profits despite lacking the required licenses and certifications.
Five Executive Secretaries of cells and sectors have also been arrested and are being investigated for allegedly aiding and abetting offences related to the production of harmful products.
According to RIB, some local leaders allegedly warned factory owners ahead of inspections or allowed factories to resume operations after they had been closed.
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Crackdown Expands Across Licensing System
Dr. Murangira said some factory owners were told that their facilities could temporarily resume operations despite closure orders.
He stressed that the investigation has now expanded beyond factory operators to include officials accused of unlawfully issuing licenses and enabling illegal production activities.
