President Paul Kagame has warned that businesses and individuals involved in producing or distributing unsafe alcoholic drinks will face action, saying commercial interests cannot be protected at the expense of people’s lives.
Kagame addressed the issue during a press conference on Monday, August 24, about three weeks after authorities closed more than 140 breweries and distilleries and recalled hundreds of alcoholic beverage brands.
Health authorities have linked substandard alcohol to at least 50 deaths and more than 100 cases of vision impairment since the beginning of 2026.
“There are drinks that people consume that are killing them, and the evidence is clear: these drinks are causing deaths,” Kagame said.
He questioned the value of maintaining factories and protecting jobs when their products endanger workers, consumers and the wider public. He said legitimate businesses should manufacture, transport and sell products that people can consume without fearing for their lives.
Kagame also raised concerns about alcoholic drinks imported without meeting Rwanda’s required safety and quality standards. Authorities have temporarily suspended the importation of more than 50 brands as investigations and product assessments continue.
He said some unsafe drinks could cause immediate death, while the effects of others might appear after several days or even years.
The crackdown has also focused attention on public institutions responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of products entering the market.
On August 13, Rwanda National Police and the Rwanda Investigation Bureau presented 17 public officials suspected of involvement in the manufacture and distribution of substandard alcoholic beverages. They included 10 Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority employees, three Rwanda Standards Board employees and local government officials.
Kagame said quality-control agencies were established specifically to prevent dangerous products from reaching consumers. He suggested that some officials might have had interests in the affected factories or allowed their owners to continue operating despite violations.
However, he stressed that this was his assessment and that those under investigation would have to provide answers concerning their alleged involvement.
Kagame said the public-health problem extends beyond illicit alcohol to narcotics and other dangerous substances. He expressed concern that some harmful drinks and drugs had been popularised through songs and informal names despite their damaging effects, particularly on young people.
He rejected the idea that authorities should wait for public pressure before intervening, saying the more important question was why products known to be killing people had been allowed to circulate. Kagame said enforcement would apply equally to everyone involved, with no individual or business receiving preferential treatment.
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