Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana has said unsafe alcoholic beverages have killed at least 50 people and sent more than 500 others to hospitals across the country in the first six months of 2026, as authorities intensify a crackdown on manufacturers of substandard drinks.
The minister said the government considers the growing cases linked to toxic alcohol a public health epidemic, days after the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) shut down eight alcohol manufacturing facilities and ordered the recall of products from the affected companies.
Speaking to Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), Dr. Nsanzimana said the number of people seeking treatment after consuming unsafe alcoholic drinks has reached worrying levels.
“We consider it an epidemic based on the figures we have. Since the beginning of this year, hospitals across the country have received just over 500 people who came for treatment after becoming sick from consuming these alcoholic beverages,” he said.
He said the cases were reported in different parts of the country, including major incidents in Ngoma, Nyagatare and parts of the Southern Province.
“Those 500 are the people who reached hospitals, where we received and treated them. Some lost their lives. There were also people who died before reaching health facilities. We have so far counted around 50 deaths,” Nsanzimana said.
The minister added that the impact of the unsafe drinks goes beyond deaths, with about 100 people suffering permanent blindness, while others have developed long-term brain disorders, liver disease and other serious health complications.
He said the situation has worsened with the increasing availability of highly concentrated alcoholic beverages and drinks produced using unsafe methods.
“We knew traditional drinks such as urwagwa and ikigage. Then alcoholic drinks with 40 to 50 percent alcohol came in — drinks that many citizens had never encountered in their lives. Then some people started producing them in other ways,” he said.
Nsanzimana said some operators have established what appear to be legitimate factories but later introduce harmful substances into alcoholic products before selling them to consumers.
“Some people establish good factories with the aim of producing quality beverages, but later they add different chemicals behind the scenes, package them and give them to people to drink, which is what causes illness and deaths,” he said.
He warned that the country must continue treating the issue with urgency to prevent more deaths and long-term health consequences.
“This is an epidemic among others, and we must fight it as an epidemic. If we do not act now, we will pay the price tomorrow,” he said.
The minister’s comments follow a decision by Rwanda FDA on August 2 to close eight alcohol manufacturing companies after inspections and compliance assessments.
The affected facilities are Ingufu Gin Ltd, NBG Ltd, SKY Drop Industries Ltd, Africana Buffalo Ltd, Nopa Company Ltd, Roots Investment Group Ltd, Rugali Agro-Processing Company and Zhonglu Industrial Liability Company Ltd.
Rwanda FDA revoked the manufacturing licences of the companies and ordered the withdrawal from the market of all products produced by the affected facilities. The regulator also published a list of 38 vodka, gin and whiskey brands subject to recall.
The authority instructed manufacturers to immediately begin recalling the products, request distributors to return stock and submit recall reports within three working days.
Distributors and retailers were also ordered to stop selling the affected products and return remaining quantities to their suppliers, while consumers were urged to immediately stop consuming products linked to the closed facilities.
The crackdown is part of a wider government effort to address illegal alcohol production and alcohol abuse, particularly among young people. Rwanda FDA has warned that enforcement actions will continue and that more facilities could be affected following further inspections.
