Kagame: Rwanda Cannot Stand By as Illicit Alcohol Kills People

KIGALI — President Paul Kagame said Monday that Rwanda cannot stand by while illicit and substandard alcoholic drinks continue to cause deaths, as authorities intensify a crackdown that has led to the closure of more than 140 breweries and distilleries and the recall of hundreds of alcohol brands.

Kagame made the remarks Aug. 24 during a news conference, three weeks after the crackdown began. Health authorities have reported at least 50 deaths and 100 injuries linked to alcohol consumption since the beginning of 2026.

“There are drinks that people consume that are killing them, and the evidence is clear: these drinks are causing deaths,” Kagame said.

He said protecting businesses and their workers cannot come at the expense of people’s lives.

“Do we want factories and the workers in those factories to be harmed by what is produced there? Or do we want factories to produce what is needed, for people to transport and sell those products, and for them to be able to return home and consume them without fear of dying?” he said.

Kagame also raised concerns about alcoholic beverages imported into Rwanda. The government has temporarily suspended the importation of more than 50 alcohol brands, according to authorities.

“Some of these drinks that are killing people are not even produced here. They come from outside the country and are brought in without meeting the required quality standards,” Kagame said.

He added that some harmful products could cause immediate death, while others could have effects after days or even longer periods.

The crackdown has also raised questions about the role of institutions responsible for regulating the safety and quality of alcoholic beverages.

On Aug. 13, the Rwanda National Police and Rwanda Investigation Bureau presented 17 public officials suspected of involvement in the production and distribution of substandard alcoholic beverages. The suspects included 10 employees of the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority, three employees of the Rwanda Standards Board and local government officials.

Kagame said agencies responsible for quality control were established to prevent dangerous products from reaching consumers.

“That is why those responsible for quality control were put in place, to ensure that these products do not cause all these problems. I believe some of them may have played a role in what is happening,” he said.

He said investigators would have to establish whether officials had been involved in factories producing the drinks or had deliberately ignored violations.

“They could have been involved in these factories, or the factory owners may have made them turn a blind eye, allowing the products to reach the market and ultimately kill people. But that is my assessment. They are the ones to provide the answers,” he said.

Kagame said the government’s concerns extend beyond illicit alcohol to other substances and products that pose risks to public health, including drugs.

“We have been talking for some time about drugs and alcoholic drinks. People even sing about them and give them names, yet they are killing people, including young people. The country cannot simply watch as people die,” he said.

He rejected calls for authorities to wait until the public demands action before intervening.

“You do not wait for someone to ask why people are dying before you act. The question we should be asking is why products that are killing people are being allowed to circulate,” he said.

Kagame said the government would continue taking action against businesses and individuals whose practices endanger public health.

“There are no favourites in this matter. We are confronting those involved, and things are being put in order as they should be. Those who know what is required will comply. But those who bring practices and ways of doing business that kill people will face action,” he said.

He also rejected concerns that enforcement should be weakened because of questions over how some suspects are arrested or investigated.

“If those procedures are not being carried out properly, the responsible institutions should correct them. But that should not distract us from confronting the things that need to be confronted,” he said.

The government’s campaign has already resulted in the seizure and destruction of large quantities of illicit and substandard alcoholic beverages across Rwanda.