Rwanda’s Investigation Bureau (RIB) has arrested and presented 18 people, including Rwanda FDA Director General Prof. Emile Bienvenu , in connection with an investigation into the production and distribution of substandard alcoholic beverages suspected of posing serious risks to public health. The 18 suspects were presented by RIB on August 13, 2026, and include 10 officials from the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA), officials from the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), as well as Executive Secretaries from several sectors and cells. RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry said the

Rwanda’s Investigation Bureau (RIB) has arrested and presented 18 people, including Rwanda FDA Director General

Prof. Emile Bienvenu

, in connection with an investigation into the production and distribution of substandard alcoholic beverages suspected of posing serious risks to public health. The 18 suspects were presented by RIB on August 13, 2026, and include 10 officials from the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA), officials from the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), as well as Executive Secretaries from several sectors and cells. RIB spokesperson

Dr. Murangira B. Thierry

said the arrests form part of a wider investigation that began on July 20, 2026. So far,

104 people have been arrested

over alleged offences linked to the production and distribution of substandard alcoholic drinks, while case files involving

97 suspects have already been submitted to the prosecution

. According to RIB, preliminary investigations have raised concerns over the way some licences were issued by Rwanda FDA, allegedly without following recommendations from the authority’s Internal Technical Licensing Committee. Dr. Murangira cited the case of a beverage-processing factory where inspectors reportedly found a juice-extracting machine heavily affected by rust. He said that despite the inspection findings, the factory was issued a Food Business Operations (FBO) licence. RIB said the licence was issued by the Rwanda FDA Director General on April 23, 2026, after the company had met three requirements. However, on May 19, the Internal Technical Licensing Committee reviewed the inspectors’ report and recommended that the factory should not be granted the licence. According to RIB, the committee’s recommendation came after the licence had already been issued. Several RSB officials are also among those arrested. They include

Mporanzi Samuel

, Head of the National Quality Certification Division;

Kanyange Celine

, Head of the Product Quality Certification Division; and

Kabanda Eric

, Head of the Management System Certification Division. Three other RSB employees are being investigated over the alleged improper issuance of

S-Mark certification

, which is intended to demonstrate that a product meets required quality standards. RIB said the officials allegedly issued S-Mark certificates to more than 18 companies whose products did not meet the requirements set by Rwanda FDA. Dr. Murangira explained that, under normal procedures, a company seeking an S-Mark certification must first apply and demonstrate that its products comply with Rwanda FDA requirements before the certification can be issued. However, investigators reportedly found cases where alcoholic beverages carried an S-Mark despite having no corresponding Rwanda FDA documentation. “This created a major gap and contributed to the proliferation of products on the market that did not meet safety standards,” Dr. Murangira said. RIB alleges that some officials responsible for quality control and regulation abused their authority for personal benefit and deliberately failed to carry out their duties. The agency said officials had the authority to seize or stop the sale of products that failed to meet safety requirements but allegedly failed to take action against certain manufacturers. Dr. Murangira said some factories continued operating and making profits despite lacking the required licences, suggesting that officials responsible for enforcement had deliberately ignored violations and enabled businesses to continue operating. The investigation follows the closure of

more than 150 factories

suspected of producing alcoholic beverages that failed to meet required safety and quality standards. RIB has also arrested five Executive Secretaries from cells and sectors. They are accused of allegedly aiding offences involving the distribution of substances capable of causing death or serious harm to human health. According to RIB, some local government officials allegedly worked with factory owners by warning them ahead of enforcement operations or allowing factories that had been closed to resume operations without following legal procedures. Dr. Murangira said investigators sometimes arrived at suspected production sites only to discover that the operators had already been warned. In some cases, factories that had been closed were allegedly allowed to reopen, with operators reportedly told that the closures were temporary and would soon be lifted. RIB stressed that the investigation is now expanding beyond manufacturers and distributors to include officials suspected of enabling illegal operations through improper licensing, negligence or abuse of authority. The arrests mark a significant escalation in Rwanda’s efforts to address the production and sale of substandard alcoholic beverages, with investigators focusing not only on those manufacturing the products but also on individuals and institutions accused of allowing unsafe products to reach consumers.

Rwanda FDA Director General Prof. Emile Bienvenu is among 18 people presented by RIB over alleged offences linked to the production and distribution of substandard alcoholic beverages.

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