BURERA DISTRICT MAYOR URGES RESIDENTS TO AVOID CONSUMING SUBSTANDARD ALCOHOLIC DRINKS

During a community meeting held under the "Duhari ku Bwanyu" outreach programme on Thursday, 9 July 2026, in Buramba Cell, Gahunga Sector, the Mayor of Burera District, Mukamana Soline, urged residents to refrain from consuming substandard alcoholic drinks due to their serious health and social consequences.

The Duhari ku Bwanyu programme aims to bring district leaders closer to citizens by raising awareness about government programmes that promote improved livelihoods and national development, encouraging public participation in their implementation, and identifying and resolving community concerns.

The Mayor warned residents against consuming locally made alcoholic drinks that do not meet safety standards, commonly known by names such as Dunda Ubwonko, Umumanurajipo, Yewe Muntu, Nzoga Ejo, Kinja Kunja, and Umutaragweja. She called on all Burera residents to avoid these beverages and to actively support efforts to stop their production and sale by reporting those involved to the relevant authorities.

She said:

"Substandard alcoholic drinks expose consumers to various diseases because they are produced under unhygienic conditions. Some manufacturers even add harmful chemicals, including baking yeast known as Pakimaya and other prohibited substances. As a result, some people lose their lives, while others suffer permanent health problems, including blindness."

The Mayor further noted that the consumption of unsafe alcoholic drinks contributes to insecurity within families and communities.

She stated:

"People who consume these drinks not only endanger their own health but also create problems for their families and society. They often waste family resources, engage in theft, neglect their responsibilities, and some become involved in extramarital affairs, leading to family conflicts and poverty. Excessive consumption also impairs judgment, causing some individuals to commit crimes that eventually result in imprisonment."

The Mayor encouraged residents to consume and sell only certified alcoholic beverages that meet quality and safety standards. She also urged them to maintain cleanliness in their homes and communities, make hygiene a daily habit, and actively participate in other government programmes aimed at improving citizens' welfare and advancing national development.

She concluded by calling on residents to preserve the unity of Rwandans by promoting the Ndi Umunyarwanda programme and taking an active role in preventing and combating divisionism, genocide ideology, genocide denial, and genocide minimization.