RRA engages major brewers on digital tax stamps for beers and soft drinks
Kigali, September 18, 2026 — Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) Commissioner General Ronald Niwenshuti on Friday hosted representatives from Bralirwa Plc and Skol Brewery Ltd to finalise preparations for extending Digital Tax Stamps to beers, juices, sodas and other beverages.
The meeting focused on how the two companies, Rwanda’s leading producers of beer and soft drinks, will implement the stamps without disrupting production or supply. Niwenshuti assured the manufacturers of RRA’s full cooperation and support throughout the process.
Digital Tax Stamps are already required on spirits, wines and tobacco products. In the coming days they will also be applied to beers, juices, sodas and similar drinks sold on the Rwandan market. The stamps use unique codes and security features that allow authorities and consumers to verify authenticity via a mobile app.
RRA says the expansion will help block smuggled and substandard beverages from reaching shops and bars, thereby protecting public health and ensuring that excise duty is properly collected. Officials have previously noted that products without valid stamps often indicate illicit trade or tax evasion.
Bralirwa, a Heineken subsidiary, produces popular brands such as Primus, Mützig and licensed Coca-Cola products. Skol Brewery Ltd is the other major player in the local beer market. Both companies are expected to affix the stamps at the factory before products leave the premises.
The move follows Commissioner General directives published in the Official Gazette earlier this year that added juices, lemonades, sodas and beers to the list of goods requiring tax stamps. Implementation for the new categories had been scheduled after a preparation period, and Friday’s discussions marked a key step toward rollout.
Consumers will be able to scan the stamps with RRA’s verification app to confirm the product is genuine, legally imported or manufactured, and tax-compliant. RRA has urged traders and hospitality businesses to stock only stamped products and to use Electronic Billing Machines correctly.
The authority maintains that the system will not impose undue operational burdens on manufacturers provided they meet the technical requirements, including having approved production lines and internet connectivity at factories.
About The Author
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
