In a statement issued on August 5, 2026, Rwanda FDA ordered the immediate halt of the importation of the affected alcoholic drinks.
The statement further directed all importers to immediately begin collecting the products from the market.
Rwanda FDA instructed importers to work with distributors across the country to recall the beverages and return them to the importers’ warehouses.
Importers have also been ordered to submit a report on the recall exercise to Rwanda FDA within three working days from August 5, 2026.
Rwanda has intensified its crackdown on illegal and non-compliant alcoholic beverages. So far, authorities have shut down 136 local factories producing such drinks.
The government has also begun destroying ethanol used in the production of illicit alcohol. Approximately 470,000 litres have already been collected in the City of Kigali and are set to be disposed of.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the devastating health effects of these alcoholic beverages. Over the past seven months, they have reportedly claimed the lives of 50 people, while another 100 have lost their eyesight.
