President Paul Kagame has defended Rwanda’s decision to suspend and remove substandard alcoholic beverages from the market, saying the government’s primary responsibility is to protect citizens’ lives and health.

Kagame made the remarks on June 24, 2026, during a press conference in which he was asked whether manufacturers and people working in alcohol-processing businesses affected by the closures should receive compensation for their losses.

The President said discussions about the economic interests of manufacturers should come after considering the health consequences linked to unsafe alcoholic products.

Kagame: Protecting lives must come first

Kagame said some unsafe alcoholic beverages had been linked to multiple deaths, arguing that the government could not prioritize businesses over public safety.

He noted that reported deaths had sometimes reached dozens of people and, in some cases, around 100 people in a single incident.