Speaking to Parliament on October 2, 2026, Nsengiyumva said prolonged dry weather and a livestock disease had significantly reduced milk production, particularly over the past two months.

He said the outbreak had been contained, allowing livestock markets to reopen, while prices of livestock products, including meat, had started to decline.

“We also expect milk to become more available as the rains have started,” Nsengiyumva told lawmakers.

The shortage has left many consumers struggling to find milk, with some shops in Kigali reporting limited or no supplies.

In early September, an inspection of nine shops in Gishushu, Nyarutarama and Gisimenti found that only one had milk available for sale.

Inyange Industries, one of the country’s leading dairy processors, had also linked the shortage to a prolonged dry season that severely affected milk production.

The impact has been particularly difficult for farmers, many of whom have struggled to find enough water and pasture for their cattle.

In Nyagatare District, one farmer said his daily milk production had dropped from nearly 100 litres to fewer than 20 litres.

Another farmer in Gicumbi District reported that a cow that once produced 10 litres a day was now yielding only about two litres.

The return of rainfall is expected to help restore pasture and water supplies, allowing cattle to recover and farmers to gradually increase production.

The government is hopeful that improved weather conditions and the containment of the disease will help stabilise milk supplies after months of disruption.