Rwandan National arrested in Kabale for operating an illegal soft drink factory.

By Alex Byakatonda

Communications officer-Kabale

Authorities in Kabale District have arrested a Rwandan National for allegedly operating an illegal Soft Drink factory, disregarding sanitation and hygiene guidelines and forging Uganda National Bureau of Standards stamp.

The suspect who was identified as, Jaan De dieu Mbonimpa, a resident of Nyagatare district in the North East of Rwanda, was found producing a soft drink called “Marishari” in Kyanamira parish, Kyanamira sub county of Kabale District

The Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Godfrey Nyakahuma, said the suspect was found operating without a working permit, certificate from National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), certificate from Public Health and had a forged certificate from Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), which he said leaves the lives of consumers at risk.

The operation to arrest the was headed by the District Internal Security officer, Reuben Mutabazi, the Kabale district senior Environment officer, Evas Asiimwe and the Kigezi region Police Environmental protection officer, Sam Kyomukama and the Assistant District Health Officer, Environmental Health, Oliver Namanya,

Nyakahuma, accuses the suspect of picking some of the bottles, he was using from garbage skips, forging UNBS Stamp, illegal entry, failure to get a work permit and also not getting clearance from Health department.

He also accused Mbonimpa of misleading the public that his drink helps to cure ulcers, liver, leukemia, cough and increases libido.

The Kabale Assistant District Health Officer, Environmental Health, Mr Oliver Namanya, says that the drink was being prepared under unhygienic people which puts the lives of people at the risk of diseases like diarrhea diseases, cancers and other abdominal consequences.

The Kabale District senior Environment officer, Evas Asiimwe, also says that the suspect was doing business without approvals from NEMA and Public Health Act.

However, Mbonimpa, 29, claimed that he started the business a month ago after getting an operating license from Kyanamira sub county officials, which RDC Mr Nyakahuma said should be revoked immediately.

At the time of his, Mbonimpa claimed that he had produced over 200 cartons of Marishari Soft Drinks.  When asked about ingredients of his soft drink, Marishari, Mbonimpa said that he mixes honey, jinger, rosemary, citric acid, tea of culture and sodium benzoate.

The suspect is said to have been supplying the drink to areas of Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, Kisoro, Rukiga and Rukungiri among other areas.

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