Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), the national environmental watchdog, and the police have uncovered illegal cross-border trade in banned polythene material from Uganda.

The illegal polythene that was recovered in a joint operation last Friday included large quantities of Hot Loaf bread packed in plastic and hidden inside wax-coated paper. Hot Loaf products are produced and imported from neighbouring Uganda.

According to REMA’s national standing policies, production and importation of any kind of polythene material is illegal.

Great Lakes Property Protection and Reinforcement Company (GLPPRC), a private firm hired by REMA for the clampdown, seized quantifies of this bread in polythene bags from Kigali City shops.

Peter Murejuru, one of the authorities from GLPPRC accused the importers of defying REMA’s earlier advice to import only bread packed in wax-coated paper.

"We know the crackdown will have a significant impact on the ban of polythene material used in the country and we’ll continue working to stop the illicit trade,” Murejuru said.

REMA’S Director of Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, Theobald Mashinga, said that the phase of public sensitisation is nearing completion.

"Our message is clear and simple. Polythene dealers are not welcome in Rwanda and we will do everything to get rid of them,” he noted.

Mashinga added that the operation will first give culprits a clear warning message that REMA knows who they are and that it can easily strike.

He said that the countrywide operation against the use of polythene bags could force a number of shops found to possess them to close.

Most culprits have been discovered in Kigali City by the environmental watchdogs.

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