Muhanga District health officials have temporarily closed down several bars and restaurants due to  poor sanitation.

The operation was led by Sosthene Umutoniwase Kamana, the district health officer and a team of medical experts and security officials.

This followed complaints raised by the District Council Social Welfare Committee, about the restaurants state of hygiene

"Toilets and kitchens, in some places had to be closed due to lack of water," Kamana said.

Among those shut down was the Muhanga Cultural Centre, where most district meetings are held, which had dirty toilets.

 The toilets have been clogged and stinking over the past years with residents often raising complaints.

Others include Oasis, Papyrus and Safari bars, which lacked proper kitchens, according to the health ministry guidelines.

Kamana said that the businesses could be reopened once the proprietors implement the guidelines.

One of the affected proprietors, Vedaste Nzeyimana, the owner of Safari bar, promised to measure up.

 "I was aware of the situation and in order to keep the business running, I started to fix tiles in the bar kitchen,” he said.

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