Mysterious beers kill 50 people in Rwanda and cause permanent blindness to over 100 other victims

Kigali has slammed shut more than 100 breweries plants after some mysterious liquor reportedly killed over 50 people in Rwanda and rendered hundreds of others blind.

The alleged toxic alcoholic drinks are commonly known as ‘Ibyuma’ (spirit drinks).

They have been linked to deaths, permanent blindness and other serious health problems affecting communities across the country.

In a major public health intervention, authorities have closed more than 100 alcohol manufacturing plants, revoked their operating licenses and ordered their products to be removed from the market.

The crackdown was implemented by the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), the Ministry of Local Government and other government agencies.

The operations against local brewery plants affected, among others, the Ingufu Gin Limited, NBG Ltd, SKY Drop Industries, Africana Buffalo, NOPA Company, Roots Investment Group, Rugali Agro-processing Company and Zhonglu Industrial Liability Company Limited.

These firms were found with serious breaches of safety and production standards at their brewery plants.

Other beer makers who fell under the axe included 101 more plants who also had their factories closed, products pulled off the shelves, while the authorities also revoked their brewing permits.

Rwandan authorities ordered the affected producers three working days to remove the stocks of the drinks from retailers and pull-down related advertisements linked to the products.

The Rwandan Minister of Health Dr Sabin Nsanzimana said the issue had gone beyond illegal business practices and had become a serious threat to public health.

According to the Ministry of Health in Rwanda, more than 500 people have been affected by the intoxicants and are currently undergoing medical treatment.

The poisonous drinks are believed to have wreaked havoc in the East African country between January and July 2026.

More than 50 victims were killed after consuming the suspected alcoholic drinks.

Reports say 100 other people have so far lost their sight, becoming permanently blind in the course.

Dr Nsanzimana said the country was also facing a growing challenge of alcohol dependency, with around 11,000 people identified as having severe alcohol-related addiction.

He warned that excessive consumption of unsafe alcohol was contributing to rising cases of kidney disease, liver disease and other non-communicable illnesses.

Investigations also revealed alarming production practices. Laboratory tests found some drinks contained alcohol levels of up to 90 per cent, alongside dangerous substances including methanol, a chemical that can cause poisoning, blindness and death.

The Health Minister said inspectors had discovered that some producers were enhancing their drinks with harmful substances such as fertilizer, tobacco, chili pepper, molasses, cell batteries and even crushed bricks in the production process.

“These are not alcoholic drinks; they are poison. Anyone who consumes them is putting their life at serious risk.”

The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) said it had started criminal investigations into people suspected of being involved in producing unsafe alcohol.

Peter Karake, Director of Criminal Investigation and Counter-Terrorism at RIB, warned that some producers knowingly used methanol despite its dangers.

“Methanol is an industrial chemical. Even a small amount can cause blindness or death.”

As part of wider efforts to control the problem, the Government temporarily suspended ethanol imports, a key ingredient used in producing gin and other strong alcoholic drinks.

Officials said the move followed concerns that ethanol was being diverted and misused in the production of illegal beverages.

Local authorities have on the other hand been instructed to strengthen monitoring and work with communities to identify illegal alcohol production and distribution networks.