Rwanda Cracks Down on Toxic Alcohol as Dozens Die and Others Lose Their Sight

Kigali, August 3, 2026 - Rwanda has intensified its crackdown on illicit and substandard alcohol after authorities reported that about 500 people have sought medical treatment since the beginning of the year after consuming dangerous drinks, with around 50 deaths and 100 cases of blindness reported.

Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana said laboratory tests on some seized alcoholic beverages found alcohol concentrations as high as 90%, along with toxic substances not intended for human consumption. He warned that the problem is increasingly causing sudden illness and death, particularly as some illegally produced drinks contain unusually high levels of alcohol.

Peter Karake, head of the Rwanda Investigation Bureau’s Crime Investigation and Counter-Terrorism Department, said several factories shut down by authorities lacked valid operating documents or had expired licenses. Investigators also found facilities where alcohol was mixed with substances such as methanol, a highly toxic chemical that is not safe for consumption. Poor hygiene, inadequate equipment and unqualified workers were also reported at some production sites.

Authorities said some producers have used a range of unsafe ingredients and methods to accelerate production and reduce costs. Nsanzimana warned that alcohol abuse is already associated with serious liver, kidney and neurological diseases, while contaminated drinks can cause severe poisoning, blindness or death.

The crackdown has expanded beyond the eight factories previously closed by the Rwanda FDA, with about 90 additional illegal production sites reportedly shut down over the past 10 days. Around 50 people have been arrested on allegations of manufacturing harmful or substandard beverages, as authorities move to curb what they describe as a growing public health threat.