He made the remarks on August 4, 2026, during a meeting with members of Rwanda’s creative industry, including artists and investors, where they discussed the sector’s role in contributing to national development.

The meeting came amid a government campaign against illicit alcoholic drinks, which has resulted in the closure of more than 130 factories producing unsafe beverages.

Dr. Nsanzimana urged people to take responsibility for their health by avoiding substances that harm the body, including drugs and unsafe alcohol.

He stressed that the human body does not come with replaceable parts. “The body I was born with is the one I will grow old with. We will not find replacements for the parts we have,” he said.

He added that what people consume directly affects their health, explaining that a person’s physical condition reflects the choices they make about what they put into their body.

“If you put good things into your body, it will show. But if you put harmful things into it, the damage will also become visible,” he said.

Musician Jean Paul Hagenimana, popularly known as Bushali, shared his personal journey of recovering from drug addiction, revealing that his substance abuse once landed him in prison.

Looking back, he said the experience became a turning point rather than a setback.

He explained that his time in prison gave him the opportunity to reflect on his life and his responsibilities to his country.

After his release, Bushali said he was encouraged by the progress Rwanda had made, particularly the development of infrastructure that has created more opportunities for artists to perform and grow their careers. He said this motivated him to contribute positively to the country's development.

He also expressed concern about the growing number of young people becoming involved in drug abuse and other harmful behaviours.

"As young people, we should focus on positive actions, support one another, and grow alongside our country's development," he said.

Disc jockey Grace Divine Iradukunda, better known as DJ Ira, said artists do not need drugs to fuel their creativity, warning that substance abuse can instead undermine talent and personal values.

She encouraged young people to support friends struggling with addiction instead of being influenced by them.

"We should be the ones encouraging our friends to quit drugs, not allowing them to persuade us to use them," she said.

Rwanda has intensified its campaign against illicit alcohol following a series of deadly incidents linked to toxic drinks.

In the past seven months alone, contaminated alcohol has claimed more than 50 lives, while over 100 people have lost their sight after consuming it.