EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE—Police in Nyagatare on Thursday destroyed illicit brew commonly known as Kanyanga worth over Frw10million. The gin was impounded from various illegal dealers in the district since December last year.

Hundreds of residents from Rwimiyaga sector, reportedly the leading dealers in the gin witnessed the event. Over 5000 liters of packed liquor was poured. Police explained that they organized the destruction in public to serve as a lesson to residents.

Trucks of National prisons and police trampled on cartons of Kanyanga while other quantities contained in Jerry cans was buried in a ditch in Rwemiyaga trading centre.

Chief inspector of police, Damien Gasana told residents after the exercise that kanyanga is a harmful drug to health and illegal in the country.

"Out of the estimated 5000Ltrs of the destroyed liquor over 80 percent was impounded in Rwimiyaga. Other quantities were impounded from other sectors combined,” Gasana said.

Gasana noted that area residents are addicted to Kanyanga business because of its nearness to countries where it’s freely brewed. Nyagatare neighbors western districts of Uganda.

The district director of good governance, Yvonne Muhongayire rapped residents for tainting the district image.

"You have given a bad image to your sector and district in general, it would have served better to visit Rwimiyaga when talking about developmental issues instead we are watching the destruction of Kanyanga,” she said, urging residents to restrain from the trade and embark on development.

Kanyanga business attracts between two months and one year’s imprisonment on conviction or a fine of between Frw20,000 and 200,000 in Rwandan laws.

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