Rwanda National Police

A joint operation of Rwanda Standards Board (RBS), Rwanda National Police (RNP) and local government authority officials have ordered the immediate closure of somes distilleries in Kirehe District due unhygienic and quality issues.

The shutdown followed an inspection conducted yesterday, which mainly assessed the hygiene at distilleries and raw materials used. The inspection team was headed by the Mayor of Kirehe, Gerald Muzungu.

The closed factories are COVAPOBA, COIDGA, and CTAGA all operating in Mahama and Gahara sectors.

The team found out that some of the ingredients were not prescribed for public consumption and contrary to standards by the standards bureau.

“We found out that samples delivered at RBS for certification are different from what is being produced and sold, even the fermentation process is not to standards” the mayor said.

The Eastern regional police spokesperson, Inspector of Police (IP) Bosco Dusabe, also said that other ten distilleries were found operating illegally with either no certification or using harmful products.

He said the inspection exercise will continue to other districts in the province to protect the unwitting consumers of such harmful products.