Rwanda National Police said its crackdown on illegal alcohol had helped reduce violence and family disputes in Kigali, with residents reporting safer neighbourhoods, more peaceful homes and improved family relationships.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Wellars Gahonzire, the police spokesperson in the City of Kigali, said the improvements had become noticeable after nearly three months of operations targeting illegal and substandard alcoholic drinks, commonly known as ibyuma.
“When we speak to residents, they tell us this decision was long overdue. One woman may tell you, ‘I feel loved again. My husband now works, earns money, and I also benefit from what he earns,’” Gahonzire said.
He explained that some families previously affected by excessive drinking had reported fewer arguments over money, school fees and household responsibilities.
According to the spokesperson, the campaign had also helped restore calm in neighbourhoods where illegal alcohol consumption was associated with fights, theft and other disturbances.
Gahonzire said police consider several factors when determining whether alcoholic drinks meet the required standards, including their ingredients, production methods, the authorisation of manufacturers and the risks they pose to consumers.
“When we talk about substandard alcohol or ibyuma, we look at three things. First, we examine what the drinks contain, whether they are produced by authorised people and whether the correct standards are followed. We also look at their effects on consumers and the risks they pose to public security,” he explained.
He said some of the drinks had caused serious health problems, including illnesses and deaths, while others had affected people’s ability to work and provide for their families.
The police spokesperson also linked excessive consumption of these drinks to violent incidents, including physical assaults, domestic disputes and killings.
He recalled a case in Kinyinya Sector, Gasabo District, where a man who had consumed illegal alcohol killed his wife and later reportedly told investigators that he believed he had been attacking a demon.
“We once had a case in Kinyinya where a man who had been drinking ibyuma killed his wife. After his arrest, he said he thought he was killing a demon,” Gahonzire said.
He added that some areas of Kigali had previously experienced repeated disturbances linked to illegal alcohol sales and consumption.
One example was Isi ya Cyenda, an area in Kimisagara Sector, where groups of people reportedly gathered to drink, leading to fights and other activities that disturbed nearby residents.
“At Isi ya Cyenda, these drinks were widely available. People would get drunk, fight and insult one another. There was also prostitution, drug use and theft. Residents did not feel safe, as stolen goods from other areas were sometimes brought there for sale,” he said.
Improvements in road safety
Gahonzire also said efforts to reduce illegal alcohol consumption had contributed to improvements in road safety.
He explained that some drivers previously consumed the drinks after long working hours and later returned to the road while intoxicated.
According to the spokesperson, this behaviour had contributed to accidents that left people injured or dead.
“You would find a truck driver who had worked all day, but instead of going home to rest, he would drink. Later, you would find him asleep at the wheel or his vehicle had gone off the road,” he said.
Gahonzire maintained that accidents associated with excessive drinking had become less common since the crackdown began, although road accidents continued to occur.
“Since these drinks were banned, accidents still happen, but you find that they are not caused by someone who was heavily intoxicated,” he said.
Police did not provide new figures showing the extent of the reported reduction in alcohol-related road accidents in Kigali.
Families report positive changes
Beyond public safety, Gahonzire said the campaign had brought changes to households that previously struggled with alcohol-related problems.
He explained that some residents now reported improved communication between spouses, fewer domestic disputes and better management of family income.
Some families also said they were experiencing fewer disagreements caused by parents failing to pay children’s school fees, returning home drunk or neglecting household responsibilities.
These improvements, according to the spokesperson, were among the reasons some residents believed the crackdown should have been introduced earlier.
The campaign forms part of wider efforts by Rwanda National Police and other authorities to stop the production, sale and consumption of illegal alcoholic drinks.
The nationwide operation began on July 20, 2026, following growing concerns over the health and security risks associated with substandard alcohol.
During earlier operations in Kigali, police seized and destroyed large quantities of prohibited drinks and substances used in their production.
By August 11, authorities had destroyed 553,920 litres of seized ethanol and methanol, alongside 15,348 litres of illegal traditional alcoholic beverages, according to Rwanda National Police.
The operations also targeted businesses suspected of producing or distributing drinks that failed to meet safety requirements.
Despite the reported progress, Gahonzire said some traders were still attempting to sell prohibited alcoholic drinks secretly.
He described an incident in which a trader disguised illegal alcohol as ordinary bottled water to avoid attracting attention.
“A customer would come and ask for water, and the seller would serve them illegal alcohol in a way that people nearby would not know what was happening,” he said
Police received information about the business from residents and sent an undercover officer to investigate.
The officer requested the prohibited drink and was served, prompting police to search the establishment.
“One of our officers went there and asked for the drink, and they served him. We then searched the premises, found several cartons of alcohol, arrested the trader and closed the bar,” Gahonzire said.
He explained that some traders had stopped selling illegal alcohol, while others continued hiding the drinks or reopening bars after authorities had ordered them closed.
The spokesperson urged people still keeping prohibited alcoholic drinks to surrender them voluntarily for destruction.
“Not everyone changes at the same time. We continue telling people who have these drinks to bring them to us so they can be destroyed. Some still have them, but those who refuse to listen
will be arrested. Those who voluntarily bring what they had hidden will have the drinks destroyed,” he said.
Gahonzire warned traders against ignoring the restrictions, saying police would continue enforcing the rules while educating residents about the dangers associated with illegal alcohol.
He also acknowledged the importance of information provided by members of the public in helping police identify businesses involved in the illegal trade.
Gahonzire also called on young people to avoid drug abuse and excessive drinking, encouraging them to focus on education, employment and building stable futures.
He said young people who hoped to become responsible parents, respected leaders and productive members of society needed to begin preparing for those responsibilities early in life.
“If you want to become a respected person, contribute to your country, develop yourself and your family, and enjoy a good life in old age, you cannot wait until you are 50 to start preparing for it. These things must begin while you are still young,” he said.
He warned that spending one’s most productive years drinking could affect future financial stability and family wellbeing.
“If you spend the years when you have the strength to work drinking and going to bars, you will reach old age without the energy to work, yet you will still need to live well,” he added.
Police said public awareness campaigns and enforcement operations would continue, with the aim of protecting residents and building on the improvements reported in Kigali’s communities.
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