Rwanda National Police

Police and local authorities in Ruhango District have cautioned residents against distilling and selling illicit substances, which is a criminal act.

The warning follows separate operations where illegal distilleries have been dismantled, substances disposed of, and owners arrested.

The latest operation was conducted on Tuesday when security organs and local authorities seized about 1000 litres of “muriture”, a locally made illegal brew, from four distillers in Kinazi Sector, Gisali Cell in Kanaba Village.

About 1000 litres of muriture was seized from the four brewers.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the Southern region, said that “operations are continuous.”

He identified owners of the distilleries as Rose Mukashyaka, 46, who was caught with 270 litres, Mediatrice Mukakanimba with 250 litres, Theresie Mukampungiro found with 360 litres and Emmanuel Habiyambere with other quantities of the illegal substance.

Muriture is concocted out of sugarcane residues, burned bricks, water and other unhygienic and harmful ingredients.

CIP Twajamahoro said that the seized substances were disposed of in presence of hundreds of residents, who were warned against distilling illicit brew.

“Police and local leaders are working together in operations and awareness campaigns to sensitize residents on ill-effects of consuming such poisonous substances, and ensure that such distilleries are destroyed and owners arrested,” CIP Twajamahoro said.

He also reminded the public that consuming such illicit substances is equally unlawful and punishable by law.

Under article 263 of the penal code, any person who, in any way, eats, drinks, injects himself/herself, inhales or one who anoints oneself with psychotropic substances, commits an offence, punishable by an imprisonment term between one and two years or subjected to a penalty of community service.   

The spokesperson advised those wishing to start brewery business to go through the legal channels and follow standards of distilling alcoholic beverages.

Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) set standard requirements, including labeling (name of the products, physical and postal address of manufacturer); net contents in milliliters or liters; ethyl alcohol content; date of manufacture and expiry date; storage instructions; statutory warnings; and list of ingredients in descending order, among others.