The City of Kigali has collected nearly four million bottles of alcoholic beverages locally known as “Ibyuma” as authorities intensify a nationwide crackdown on illicit and substandard alcohol.
The collection was carried out across Kigali’s three districts following the launch of the government campaign on August 2, 2026.
In a statement issued on August 12, the City of Kigali said it had also begun the destruction of the seized beverages after they were found to be non-compliant with required quality standards.
“Today, we began destroying substandard alcoholic beverages collected from all districts of the City of Kigali. So far, nearly four million bottles of these beverages have been collected,” the city said.
Authorities said the beverages are first diluted with water before disposal to reduce their potential environmental impact. They are then destroyed safely at the Nduba landfill in accordance with established procedures.
More than 150 factories closed
The crackdown has expanded beyond Kigali, with the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) reporting that more than 150 factories producing substandard alcoholic beverages had been closed within the first 10 days of the campaign.
The regulator has also suspended the products manufactured by the affected facilities and halted import permits for 47 types of alcoholic beverages.
The measures followed investigations and laboratory assessments that found some manufacturers were using improperly processed ethanol in their products, raising concerns over potential health risks.
The government has reported that more than 500 people have sought medical treatment since January 2026 after consuming substandard alcoholic beverages.
Of those cases, authorities report that 50 people died and 100 suffered permanent blindness, while about 11,000 people across the country are reportedly struggling with dependence on the affected beverages.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has also announced the arrest of 80 people suspected of involvement in the production of substandard alcoholic beverages.
The government has vowed to maintain the crackdown on manufacturers, distributors and other actors involved in producing or selling alcoholic beverages that fail to meet required standards, as authorities seek to curb the health and social consequences linked to the products.
