Residents of Butaro Sector in Burera District say local authorities have recently banned the traditional alcoholic beverages they were accustomed to drinking, including ikigage, urwagwa, and ubushera. As a result, some residents have reportedly begun crossing the border into Uganda to consume Kanyanga, an illicit alcohol not permitted in Rwanda.
Across the country, locally brewed drinks remain popular, but some have been linked to health risks, including deaths, due to poor quality or unsafe production methods. Traditional beverages such as ikigage (fermented sorghum) and urwagwa (banana beer) are generally familiar to Rwandans, but some illicit variants—often sold disguised as legitimate drinks—have caused fatalities among consumers in different regions.
To protect public health, local authorities sometimes take action to prohibit the production, sale, and consumption of these unsafe brews. In Butaro, this has left some residents frustrated, prompting them to seek alternatives across the border.
Residents speaking to TV1 described the situation as alarming. One resident said:
“It’s a problem because when they destroy or seize the ikigage and urwagwa we prepare, we end up crossing into Uganda to drink.”
Another added:
“Hunger and thirst are hard to bear, and when you cannot drink what you’re used to at home, you risk going elsewhere for unsafe alcohol.”
Locals argue that authorities should differentiate between traditional homemade brews and hazardous, unregulated drinks. They say residents should be allowed to consume the familiar traditional beverages in moderation rather than turning to illegal foreign liquors like Kanyanga and Waragi, which are also prohibited in Rwanda.
Burera District Mayor, Soline Mukamana, clarified that residents are not prohibited from consuming traditional drinks at home. The ban targets unsafe, low-quality brews to prevent further harm. He also urged residents to cooperate with authorities in identifying and reporting producers of substandard alcohol.
“The goal is not to stop people from enjoying their traditional drinks, but to eliminate harmful products that threaten public health,” Mayor Mukamana said.
As tensions over traditional brews continue, authorities and residents face the challenge of balancing cultural practices with safety, while preventing cross-border consumption of illicit alcohol.
