Rwandan rapper and media personality Sky 2 Wabagahe has recounted how consuming a strong alcoholic drink he was contracted to promote preceded serious eye problems that required three surgeries.
Sky 2, whose real name is Hahirwabasenga Thimothée, shared his experience on Monday, August 17, 2026, during an interview with journalist Nizeyimana Luckman ‘Lucky’ on Rwanda Television (RTV).
He said the problems began while he was promoting the drink under a commercial agreement that required him to consume it whenever he visited bars.
After promoting the product for about 18 months, Sky 2 said he earned money from the arrangement but later developed an eye condition that required medical treatment.
He sought treatment at several health facilities before being referred to Rwanda Charity Eye Hospital in Bishenyi, Kamonyi District, where he underwent three surgeries.
According to Sky 2, it was during the third procedure that a doctor asked whether he smoked. He said he had previously smoked but had stopped six months earlier. He also disclosed that he was consuming the alcoholic drink he had been contracted to promote.
Sky 2 said the doctor advised him to stop consuming the drink, which he was told could be contributing to the worsening of his condition.
The advice created a difficult situation because his contract required him to promote the product and included provisions on consuming it. He said he informed his employer about the doctor’s advice and was subsequently told that he could stop consuming the drink while continuing to promote it.
Reflecting on the experience, Sky 2 said the promotion had brought him financial benefits but had also come with consequences for his health.
He said he was particularly relieved when he was later told that the product was no longer part of his treatment concerns, describing the situation as one in which he had gained financially but felt he had paid a heavy personal price.
Sky 2 added that he continues to wear glasses because his affected eye does not function properly without them. He said the eye can also begin watering when he spends time without wearing the glasses.
His testimony comes amid Rwanda’s intensified crackdown on unsafe alcoholic beverages, following concerns over products that fail to meet required safety and quality standards.
However, Sky 2’s account represents his personal experience, and the specific medical cause of his eye condition was not independently established in the interview.
Sky 2 appeared on RTV primarily to discuss his music projects and his latest song, ‘Uruganda’.
He is known for songs including ‘Icara wige’, ‘Wabagahe’, ‘Ikirara’ and ‘Ku gisi’, among others.
