The deputy government spokesperson and Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) have shed more light on the ongoing closure of alcoholic beverage manufacturing facilities, saying inspections uncovered hidden production sites, poor manufacturing practices and violations of licensing conditions. The explanations come amid a nationwide crackdown on manufacturers and distributors of substandard and illicit alcoholic beverages, which authorities have linked to deaths, blindness, other health complications and various crimes. ALSO READ: Govt renews efforts to tackle alcohol abuse among youth Speaking to Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), on July 4, Deputy Spokesperson for the Government of Rwanda, Jean Maurice Uwera said the inspections had found cases where manufacturers presented properly equipped facilities to obtain licences but later used separate sites to produce alcoholic beverages under poor conditions. He said some manufacturers also claimed to produce beverages from agricultural products but instead used industrial flavours and other substances. “Someone would present machines that were supposed to be used to produce a particular beverage, but they would not have the raw materials needed to process it,” Uwera said. He cited cases where manufacturers claimed to produce banana-based alcohol but had no agricultural produce. In other cases, he said, manufacturers established separate production facilities after realising that producing beverages according to the approved methods was more expensive. “When they realised that producing the beverage that way was expensive, they looked for a cheaper way to produce more,” he said. ALSO READ: 50 in custody over illicit alcohol production, distribution Uwera said such manufacturers would maintain a facility that could be presented to inspectors while producing beverages elsewhere under what he described as very poor conditions. He said inspections are being conducted across all alcoholic beverage manufacturing facilities. “All of them are being inspected, and where things are not in order, operations will be suspended,” Uwera said. Alcohol and crime RIB spokesperson Thierry Murangira said the concerns surrounding illicit and excessive alcohol consumption extend beyond public health. He said investigations have linked alcohol consumption to crimes including assault and causing bodily harm, theft, domestic conflicts and defilement of children. Murangira said alcohol affects people’s ability to make decisions and can cause them to lose control of their actions. He cited an analysis of child defilement cases between 2018 and 2024, in which intoxication was identified as the third-largest contributing factor among five factors analysed, accounting for 13 per cent of the cases. ALSO READ: Illicit alcohol linked to over 40 deaths in six months, health minister says He said alcohol also frequently features in assault cases, where minor disagreements can escalate into serious violence. Domestic conflicts are also significantly associated with excessive alcohol consumption, according to Murangira. 61 arrested RIB has also arrested people suspected of offences linked to the production and distribution of illicit alcoholic beverages. Murangira said the number of people arrested had reached 61 as of July 3, with investigations still ongoing. He said some suspects could face charges related to providing substances that cause death or serious harm to people’s health. ALSO READ: Rwanda FDA closes eight distilleries, orders products recall Investigators have also identified suspected forgery and falsification of documents, including cases involving people who allegedly claimed to have valid S Marks, Rwanda Revenue Authority tax stamps and other documents. Tax evasion and resistance to authorities are among other offences identified during the investigations. Murangira said some manufacturers deliberately reduced production costs by abandoning proper production processes and mixing substances without using the required equipment. The resulting beverages could then be sold cheaply, exposing consumers to potentially dangerous products, he said. He added that the number of arrests could increase as investigations continue. Govt questions growth in gin factories Uwera said the crackdown should also prompt a broader discussion about Rwanda’s industrial priorities. He questioned why the country had more than 100 factories producing gin and related alcoholic products when there is a greater need for industries processing agricultural and livestock products. ALSO READ: Over 95% of youth in rehab centres linked to alcohol abuse - minister Some manufacturers had justified their businesses on the basis of job creation, tax generation and industrial development. But Uwera said Rwanda needs to encourage investments that contribute more directly to people’s livelihoods and the country’s development. Alcohol abuse among youth Uwera said young people form an important part of Rwanda’s workforce and future, but excessive alcohol consumption can undermine their productivity and health. He gave the example of a young person who earns Rwf10,000 a day but spends Rwf3,000 on alcohol to become intoxicated, potentially leaving them unable to work effectively the following day. “You should not see a young person in their 20s or 30s ending up on dialysis because they have consumed too much alcohol,” he said. The government, he added, wants young people to prioritise activities that contribute to their future rather than alcohol consumption. Imported products also to be addressed The crackdown is not limited to locally manufactured alcoholic beverages. Uwera said imported products that fail to meet required quality and safety standards would also be addressed. “You cannot look at locally produced beverages that fail to meet quality standards while ignoring those coming from abroad,” he said. ALSO READ: Why homemade beverages now require village approval He said the Ministry of Trade is engaging importers and that action would also be taken where imported alcoholic beverages fail to comply with requirements. Meanwhile, authorities are working with local leaders and community structures to discourage the production and consumption of unsafe alcoholic beverages. Uwera said community meetings, village and cell leaders and community health workers are being involved in educating residents and identifying harmful products. Murangira also urged consumers to stop buying banned products and report people who continue to manufacture, distribute or hide them.
