Members of Rwanda’s National Consultative Forum of Political Organisations have called for stronger controls on alcoholic beverage production and inspection after raising concerns about the continued availability of substandard drinks linked to serious health complications and deaths.
The concerns were raised on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during a meeting with Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, who warned that unsafe alcohol posed a serious threat to public health, particularly among young people.
Ministry of Health figures show that more than 500 people sought medical treatment after consuming substandard alcoholic drinks in the first six months of 2026, while more than 50 deaths were reported.
Nsanzimana said the problem should be treated as a major threat to the country. He compared the spread of harmful alcoholic drinks, locally known as “ibyuma”, with the historical impact of addictive substances on other societies, citing the 19th-century Opium Wars involving China, Britain and France.
“We must learn from history, because this is also a route someone seeking to harm Rwanda could take,” he said.
The minister has also reported that nearly 100 people had permanently lost their sight after consuming unsafe alcohol, while others suffered complications affecting the brain, liver and other organs.
During the meeting, forum members questioned whether the agencies responsible for licensing and inspecting beverage producers were doing enough to prevent unsafe products from reaching consumers.
Hon. Mukama Abbas said inspectors should ensure that labels on alcoholic drinks accurately reflect the products manufacturers are authorised to produce. He raised concerns about possible gaps in oversight and corruption.
Hon. Mukabaramba Alvera questioned why producers of illegal alcoholic drinks had continued to emerge, arguing that authorities should have intervened earlier to prevent their expansion. She called for the Office of the Auditor General to examine the issue.
The discussion highlighted concerns about the effectiveness of product inspections and the enforcement of safety requirements, as well as calls for greater accountability among the institutions responsible for regulating the industry.
The figures presented by the Ministry of Health cover the first half of 2026. The reported deaths, cases of permanent blindness and other complications underline the health risks cited during the meeting.
