Stipp Hotels Rubavu, an outlet of Stipp Hotels, was temporarily closed yesterday morning in a health inspection conducted in Rubavu District, due to poor hygiene.

According to the district mayor Jérémie Sinamenye, the hotel was closed after it failed to comply with health standards as stipulated in the laws that govern hygiene in hotels.

"We have closed the hotel due to general hygiene issues. The issues range from poor hygiene in facilities like the laundry area, toilets and the septic tank that emitted odour which inconvenienced clients. Basically, when we inspected, we found that they had faulted on at least 12 regulations on hygiene,” he said.

Sinamenye also said that they had previously advised the hotel to improve their hygiene but they failed to comply, which led to the closure of the premises.

Stipp Hotels Rubavu is one of the designated hotels meant to accommodate players for the forthcoming African Championship of Nations (CHAN).

However, the mayor said that teams which were supposed to stay in the hotel will not be affected because other options are already in place.

"The teams, Zimbwabwe and Mali, that are supposed to stay at the hotel haven’t arrived yet but we have already established other options. One team will reside at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel while the other will be at the Western Mountain Hotel. Otherwise, we have done all the required inspections and apart from Stipp Hotels, the other hotels are fine,” he added.

When contacted for a comment, the president of Rwanda Hoteliers’ Association, Denis Karera, said that he had no idea although the hotel is not part of the association.

"I have no idea on the development although the hotel is not a member because they refused to join the association, he said.