The Rwanda National Police has declared that it will never tolerate anything that threatens public safety or costs lives, stressing its constitutional responsibility to protect citizens and their property.
Concerns have recently intensified over the production and sale of illicit and substandard alcoholic drinks, which have caused serious health complications, permanent disabilities, and dozens of deaths across the country.
Speaking during the official opening of the international trade fair on Saturday, Police Spokesperson ACP Boniface Rutikanga said the Police has a responsibility not only to safeguard people and their property but also to ensure the safety of products consumed by the public.
Dozens Dead and Many More Affected by Illicit Alcohol
According to Police statistics, between January and June 2026, at least 50 people died in the districts of Nyagatare, Ngoma, Bugesera, Rwamagana, Gisagara, Nyamagabe, and Nyabihu after consuming substandard alcoholic beverages.
ACP Rutikanga said producers and traders must take responsibility for ensuring the safety of the products they place on the market.
“Those selling food and drinks have the chance to correct and produce them properly. Where correction is not possible, production will be stopped until they prove they can be honest and responsible to their customers,” he said.
He added: “A good trader should think about the health of their clients, not just quick profit. That is the mindset we must embrace.”
Police Warn Against Prioritizing Profit Over Human Life
Although the government, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), has created opportunities for Rwandans to establish industries and improve their livelihoods, ACP Rutikanga said some individuals have chosen financial gain at the expense of public health.
He said: “We cannot wear these uniforms and the flag given by the State and sit back while people die, just to protect those making money. No. We must rethink how products, whether made by Rwandans or foreigners, meet required standards,”
Police also revealed that during the first six months of the year, 100 people lost their eyesight, while another 20 remain under medical treatment for kidney failure linked to the consumption of illicit alcohol.
Authorities Promise Strong Action Against Unsafe Products
ACP Rutikanga warned that authorities will continue taking firm action against producers of unsafe alcoholic beverages: “If someone dies today, another goes blind, how many are still sick and may die tomorrow? We cannot close our eyes. This includes traditional drinks like Ibigage, Inzagwa, Imisururu and others. If produced in unhygienic ways, we will shut them down,” he said.
He clarified that the government has not banned the production of sorghum-based or other traditional drinks, provided they are manufactured under safe and hygienic conditions: “Our priority is the health of Rwandans. Strong measures are being taken for their safety,” he added.
PSF Calls for Collective Responsibility
The President of the Private Sector Federation (PSF), François Twagirumukiza, also urged producers and traders to prioritize human life over financial profit: “We must admit this is a problem. People are dying, and it is linked to these drinks. As producers and traders, we must acknowledge the issue and work together to solve it quickly,” he said.
The issue of substandard alcohol was also discussed during the National Human Security Committee Meeting held at Police Headquarters in Kacyiru on July 29, 2026.
