Gitega : a physician sentenced to three years in prison for refusing to help a child in danger

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, July 31, 2025 – The First Instance Court (TGI) of Gitega, in the political capital of Burundi, sentenced Dr. Diomède Kabura to three years of penal servitude on Wednesday for failure to assist a patient in danger. The 45-year-old doctor was found guilty of failing to provide first aid to a 9-year-old boy, Moses Igiraneza, who died on the night of July 26 in the intensive care unit of the Gitega Regional Hospital.

The trial, held in flagrante delicto at Gitega Central Prison, highlighted the facts against the practitioner. According to the prosecution, despite several distress calls, including the intervention of a nurse’s assistant who knocked on his on-call room, Dr. Kabura did not respond. The prosecution described his behavior as “shocking and contrary to medical ethics” and requested a thBurundi prison sentence.

The civil party, represented by Arsène Bapfamukanwa and Serges Igiraneza, requested the doctor’s disbarment and compensation of 300 million Burundian francs.

In defense, Ferdinand Hakizimana and Clément Nzeyimana pleaded their client’s innocence, explaining that he himself was suffering from severe respiratory problems and vomiting that night, which would have prevented him from intervening.

After deliberation, the Court found Diomède Kabura guilty and sentenced him to three years in prison, along with compensation of 50 million Burundi francs to be paid to the deceased’s family.

This verdict reignites the debate on medical ethics in Burundi and raises questions about emergency management in the country’s hospitals.