Murigande made the remarks in an interview with KP Media24 published on August 22, 2026, in which he discussed concerns surrounding youth behaviour, particularly what he described as the growing prevalence of sexual activity among young people.
The Senator said he supports the government’s decision to crack down on substandard alcoholic beverages, citing what he described as their potential negative impact on people’s health and social wellbeing.
He pointed to China as an example, saying the country had previously faced challenges related to alcohol consumption but introduced measures aimed at reducing its use. “If they had not taken those measures, we would not have the China we have today.”
Murigande, however, said that addressing harmful alcohol consumption should be part of a wider effort to protect young people from other influences that may negatively affect their behaviour.
Senator raises concern over children’s exposure to pornography
Among the issues he highlighted was children’s access to pornographic material online.
Murigande argued that repeated exposure to such content could influence young people’s attitudes and behaviour, and called for stronger technological measures to prevent children from accessing pornography.
He linked what he described as an alarming level of sexual behaviour among some young people to the content they encounter on the internet.
“We are seeing children becoming deeply involved in sexual activity. We had even reached a point where children would go into certain houses where anyone entering was told to leave their brains at the door because they were supposedly entering the seventh heaven. They would go there, undress and engage in sexual activity. These are deeply concerning things.”
The Senator said the issue should not be treated solely as a matter of personal behaviour, but also as a digital safety and child-protection concern.
He calls for technology-based solutions
Murigande cited China as an example of a country that has used technological measures to restrict access to websites containing pornographic material.
He called on Rwanda’s technology institutions to explore similar approaches that could help prevent children from accessing inappropriate online content.
“If we want to help our young people in a sustainable way, and as we continue advancing technologically, the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, together with institutions such as RISA, should look at ways of protecting Rwandan children from accessing pornographic content.”
His comments come at a time when children and young people have increasingly easy access to smartphones and internet-based platforms, making online safety an increasingly important part of child protection.
He warns against other harmful online content
The Senator said measures to protect young people online should not focus exclusively on pornography.
He also called for attention to websites and other online content that could encourage self-harm or suicide, warning that such material can also have serious consequences for young people.
His broader message was that protecting young people requires addressing both the physical and digital environments in which they grow up.
A broader debate on youth wellbeing
Murigande’s remarks come as Rwanda continues to strengthen measures aimed at protecting the health and wellbeing of its population, including efforts to address the use of drugs, substandard alcoholic beverages and other activities considered harmful to public health and safety.
The Senator’s call adds another dimension to that discussion by highlighting online child protection, particularly the need to consider how technology can be used to prevent minors from accessing harmful content.
As internet access continues to expand, the challenge for policymakers is increasingly not only how to provide young people with access to technology and information, but also how to ensure that children can use digital platforms in environments that protect their safety, development and wellbeing.