Rwandan Beauty Queen Arrested on Drink-Driving Charges Following Incident

Divine Muheto, the winner of the most recent Miss Rwanda beauty pageant, has been taken into custody in Rwanda on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and operating a vehicle without a valid license. Law enforcement officials reported that Ms. Muheto caused damage to “infrastructure” before leaving the scene of the incident. The police statement did not specify whether any individuals sustained injuries during the event. Authorities in the East African nation further indicated that this is not the first occasion the 21-year-old has driven while intoxicated. Ms. Muheto has not yet issued a public statement regarding her arrest. The police officially confirmed her detention on Tuesday, following several days of public speculation that she had been apprehended in connection with a collision. A spokesperson for the prosecution informed local media that Ms. Muheto’s case is scheduled to begin hearings on Thursday at a court in the capital city, Kigali. Ms. Muheto rose to prominence in Rwanda after securing victory in the national beauty contest in 2022. The competition has not been held since that year, having been suspended by the government subsequent to allegations of sexual misconduct made against its organizers. Driving under the influence in Rwanda carries a penalty of a 150,000 Rwandan francs ($110; £85) fine and five days in police custody. In recent years, thousands of individuals have been arrested for this offense as police have intensified law enforcement efforts. Notably, in 2022, a member of parliament apologized and resigned after being involved in a drink-driving incident. The government asserts that its recent stringent enforcement of traffic laws has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of fatal road accidents across Rwanda.