Rwanda’s Minister of Local Government, Dominique Habimana, has warned that alcohol abuse, particularly consumption of unregulated alcoholic drinks, is damaging people’s health and threatening the future of young Rwandans.
Habimana said excessive drinking has become a concern that affects individuals’ productivity, family wellbeing and the ability of young people to achieve their goals.
He made the remarks as the government continues its campaign against substandard alcoholic beverages, with the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) having closed more than 100 alcohol manufacturing facilities found operating outside required standards.
Speaking to TV10, the minister said the measures were introduced after authorities observed increasing health risks associated with unregulated alcoholic drinks, including those commonly referred to as “ibyuma.”
“Excessive alcohol consumption had become widespread, and alcohol has no benefit. When it is unregulated, the situation becomes even worse. People who make drinking a habit do not gain anything from it,” Habimana said.
He urged citizens to control their alcohol consumption, warning that excessive drinking can have long-term consequences on health and personal development.
The minister said alcohol abuse contributes to challenges such as conflicts in families, which often affect children, and can leave individuals unable to work effectively after becoming dependent on alcohol.
“When someone becomes addicted to alcohol, their body starts losing strength, they may fail to work, and they end up using family resources to buy alcohol,” he said.
Habimana expressed concern over the growing impact of alcohol abuse among young people, saying that failure to address the issue could affect Rwanda’s future.
“Many young people had started falling into alcoholism. Alcohol had taken control of their lives. We want them to understand that their lives are valuable and that the country expects a lot from them. The country belongs to you; you are its strength today and tomorrow,” he said.
The government has intensified efforts to regulate alcoholic beverages following concerns over harmful products on the market. Rwanda FDA has continued inspections of alcohol producers to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
The Ministry of Health reported that between January and July 2026, health facilities across the country treated more than 500 people who became ill after consuming harmful alcoholic drinks.
The cases included 50 deaths, more than 11,000 people who developed alcohol-related complications, and over 100 people who lost their eyesight permanently.
Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana said inspections conducted among alcohol manufacturers found cases where the actual alcohol content exceeded what was indicated on product labels.
He said some drinks labelled as containing 40 percent alcohol were found to contain 70 percent or more, raising concerns over consumer safety.
The government has continued to call for public awareness, stronger enforcement and responsible alcohol consumption as part of efforts to protect public health.
