Palemon Shimirwa was 18, in 2014, when he took his first sip of Kanyanga, a banned and potent alcoholic brew he smuggled into Rwanda from Uganda. He had just completed his secondary school education. ALSO READ: Early alcohol, cannabis use linked to teen mental health struggles in Rwanda While his peers were getting ready to start university, Shimirwa remained at home, in Rubaya Sector, Gicumbi District, with no clear path ahead. “I didn’t get the chance to continue with school since my parents couldn’t afford university tuition. All my friends had moved on. I was alone, with no job and nothing to look forward to,” he recalled. With his social circle gone and pressure mounting, he began spending time with a new group of youth. They drunk Kanyanga and were part of an underground network smuggling the illegal brew across the border. He knew it was prohibited, and dangerous, but he joined them. ALSO READ: Drug abuse: when does a person go to rehab or jail? “At first, I just wanted something to do. I told myself that while my friends were at university, I would also be building a life in my own way, making money,” he said. Each trafficking trip earned him between Rwf7,000 and Rwf15,000 a night. But the money made little difference. “You end up drinking most of it. And the group doesn’t let you think of leaving. You earn to spend it on alcohol, and then you go back the next day,” he said. Before long, he was a heavy drinker and smuggler. His dependency worsened to the point where he could no longer drink water, surviving on alcohol and the occasional small meal. At first, his parents didn’t notice. But as his condition deteriorated, it became impossible to ignore. He was constantly intoxicated, often aggressive, and unrecognizable to his family. “They eventually kicked me out of the house, in 2017. They couldn’t take it anymore.” He moved into a ghetto and later crossed into Uganda, continuing his illicit operations from the other side of the border. “It got worse there. I lived in hiding. Whenever we transported Kanyanga, we were constantly on edge. If anyone tried to stop or report us, we would consider using violence. Rumours about informants reached us often, and thoughts of retaliation were common.” The constant risk of being caught meant moving at night through dangerous terrain. He sustained injuries he still bears today, including scars on his arms and body. One injury ended his ability to enjoy his favourite sport, football. In 2018, at the age of 22, Shimirwa was arrested during a smuggling run. He had crossed into Rwanda from Uganda with his gang when security forces ambushed them. He was drunk and was smuggling illicit alcohol. ‘A moment of reflection’ Instead of being jailed, he was taken to Rukomo Transit Center, a government-run preliminary rehabilitation center under the National Rehabilitation Service (NRS). “They took us to the center for three months. That’s where change began,” he said. At the center, health workers, police officers, and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) personnel engaged the young men in daily sessions. They were guided to reflect on their past choices, the dangers of substance abuse, and what they had lost. “They made us think deeply about what we could have become if we had stayed in school. It was a moment of reflection and a chance to choose a better life.” Afterward, those willing to start anew were offered vocational training in nearby TVET schools. Shimirwa chose carpentry and enrolled at Giti Technical and Vocational Education and Training School in Gicumbi District. He received a daily stipend of Rwf2,500 during the year-long training. With his savings, he bought his first tool, an angle grinder worth Rwf230,000 which became the foundation of his carpentry business. “During training, I still drank. I had stopped smuggling, but I hadn’t fully stopped drinking. But the difference was that, now, I had something to focus on.” “Recovery didn’t happen overnight. I went from drinking two litres a day to one and a half, then one. Over time, I reached a point where I could go without it completely.” By 2023, he considered himself fully sober. “I can’t even take a sip now. I’ve come too far to go back.” Today, Shimirwa’s carpentry workshop is valued at over Rwf825,000. He earns between Rwf180,000 and Rwf250,000 a month and employs four young men, each earning Rwf3,500 per day. After returning to Rwanda during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, he approached his parents and they allowed him to come back home, recognizing the changes in him. “I started helping around the house, making chairs, fixing things, supporting them with the little money I had. Slowly, they began to trust me again.” He credits that support as instrumental in his journey, noting that healing is not just about quitting substance abuse but also about rebuilding relationships and having a support system. Now focused on growing his business, Shimirwa wants to offer other young people the same opportunity he got. “I want to train more youth. I want them to see that there’s another way.” To parents, he said: “Most of the youth involved in drugs didn’t finish school. If children are educated, they have more options. And when someone falls into drugs, the solution is not to kick them out as it only makes things worse. What worked for me was support, not punishment.” To young people, he advised that the desire for quick money leads to destruction, noting that work takes time, and the idea to skip steps to success is a lie. He also warned of the influence of wrong friendships, explaining that if he hadn’t met the bad group that introduced him to alcohol, he wouldn’t have gone down that road. Shimirwa added that young people should surround themselves with friends who have their best interests at heart. He noted that change is possible for anyone, if given a chance, saying that what made the difference for him was one opportunity – someone believing he could do better. A Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) report released in June 2024 shows growing concerns over substance abuse among young people in Rwanda, with alcohol (including local brews), cannabis, and inhalations like glue topping the list. Cocaine use was reported but to a lesser extent. Findings from a study conducted in seven districts showed that 28.5 percent of adolescents had consumed alcohol, and 4.4 percent had tried cannabis. According to Dr Jean Damascene Iyamuremye, the Director of Psychiatric Care at RBC, the average age of first use for both alcohol and cannabis is around 13 years. “This early exposure happens during a critical stage of brain development, and it increases the likelihood of developing mood disorders and addiction later in life.” Drawing from the 2018 Rwanda Mental Health Survey, Dr Iyamuremye added that many youths turn to drugs as a coping mechanism for emotional distress, family issues, or poverty, often resulting in anxiety, depression, and poor decision-making.
