Rwanda National Police

 Police and local authorities in Gasabo District have dismantled an illegal distillery in Gatsata Sector, which was making illicit brew.

On Monday, Police and local leaders impounded about 8000 litres of the illicit drink called Kambuca at the plant owned by Jean Baptiste Habumugisha, in Nyagasozi village, Karuruma cell.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Marie-Gorette Umutesi, the Police spokesperson for City of Kigali, said that the illicit substances were in 32 drums and in “unhygienic place.”

“The suspect had rented the house, which he was using to produce the illicit brew called Kambuca. Habumugisha had no license and was using forged stickers; the alcoholic content is not known and there was no hygiene in the house from where he was operating,” said CIP Umutesi.

Habumugisha, who fled, was using ginger, Pakmaya yeast, sugar and unknown type of flour. The mixture of these raw materials, which are left for about three days to ferment before they are served to consumers, is considered unhealthy and toxic for human consumption.

The substances were publicly disposed of, while the Police and local authorities warned local residents against making, selling and consuming such poisonous substances. 

Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) specifies that “only food-grade processing aids recognized as safe for human consumption shall be used during the manufacture.”

All drinks with an alcoholic content exceeding 45 percent as well as all those without the standard mark (S-Mark) issued by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) are classified as narcotics.

Article 263 of the new penal code partly states that “any person who, unlawfully produces, transforms, transports, stores, gives to another or who sells narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances commits an offence, with a sentence ranging from seven years to life in prison, upon conviction, and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.