Authorities in Rulindo District have destroyed more than 26,000 litres of Akarusho beer produced by Sina Gerard’s Entreprise Urwibutso at Nyirangarama after inspections found that the beverage did not meet required quality standards.
The beer was destroyed on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in an operation involving authorities from Northern Province, Rulindo District and security agencies.
Northern Province Governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde said the action was taken to protect public health, adding that inspections of alcoholic beverages would continue to identify and remove products that fail to meet required standards.
“Since we started these operations, we have seen a significant reduction in violence in our province. We are also continuing to engage with residents, and it is clear that they welcome these efforts,” Mugabowagahunde said.
He urged residents to report locations where prohibited or substandard beverages may still be found and called on those producing drinks at home to comply with hygiene and quality requirements.
Rwanda National Police spokesperson for Northern Province, CIP Ignace Ngirabakunzi, said inspections by different authorities found shortcomings in the way Akarusho was being produced.
“Different authorities found that the way these beverages were being processed could have consequences for human health. This led to the decision to stop them and destroy the products that had already been produced, while also issuing a warning to allow the identified shortcomings to be corrected,” Ngirabakunzi said.
The operation also resulted in the destruction of an additional 2,871 litres of various substandard alcoholic beverages in Buyoga Sector, Rulindo District.
The destruction forms part of a wider nationwide campaign to remove non-compliant alcoholic beverages from the market and strengthen enforcement of health, hygiene and quality standards. Rulindo authorities have also recently destroyed more than 22,000 litres of non-compliant beverages in the district.
Akarusho is produced by Entreprise Urwibutso, the agro-processing company based at Nyirangarama in Rulindo District
