Rwanda’s Minister of Youth and Arts Development, Dr Jean Nepo Abdallah Utumatwishima, has urged young people to report locations where illicit alcoholic drinks known as “ibyuma” are still being stored, as authorities intensify efforts to remove them from circulation.
Utumatwishima made the call on Saturday, August 29, during the monthly Umuganda in Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District, attended by residents and government officials, including former Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi.
He called on young people to become active partners in the campaign by providing authorities with information about any remaining stocks of the prohibited drinks.
“Anyone with information about where these drinks are still found should provide it so that the relevant authorities can follow up,” Utumatwishima said.
He urged young people not to participate in the consumption, production or distribution of the drinks, but instead to help authorities prevent them from reaching consumers.
The appeal comes as Rwanda continues a nationwide crackdown on substandard and illicit alcoholic drinks, amid concerns over their impact on public health and communities.
Figures cited in the report indicate that more than 50 people died in 2026 after consuming unsafe alcohol, while more than 100 reportedly suffered permanent blindness and more than 11,000 were affected by addiction.
Authorities have also reportedly closed more than 150 facilities producing substandard alcoholic drinks and arrested more than 80 people linked to the trade, including producers and some officials.
Utumatwishima said young people can contribute to the crackdown by sharing information that enables authorities to identify remaining stocks and prevent their redistribution.
He encouraged them to use their role in communities to support efforts aimed at protecting public health and safety.
The call comes as authorities seek to ensure that illicit alcoholic drinks removed from the market do not re-enter circulation through hidden stocks or informal distribution channels.
