Ngozi hit by a severe water shortage despite the construction of costly reservoirs

SOS Médias Burundi

Ngozi, September 4, 2025 – Despite the construction of large reservoirs intended to improve water supply, the city of Ngozi, the town center of Butanyerera province in northern Burundi, is facing an unprecedented water shortage. In some neighborhoods, taps have been dry for more than three months, transforming residents’ daily lives into a nightmare.

In Ngozi-Butanyerera, hundreds of households are affected. In several areas, residents have not seen tap water for weeks, even months. This situation complicates domestic hygiene and exposes families to serious health risks, particularly in homes with only rudimentary latrines.

“We live as if we’re in a forgotten region, even though we’re in the middle of the city,” laments a resident of the Kinyami neighborhood.

Expensive reservoirs… but useless?

The Sogea Satom company recently built large reservoirs in the Nyakijima valley, with the aim of permanently solving the water supply problem. But this infrastructure, which required significant public investment, has not improved the situation in any way, according to residents.

“We see the reservoirs, but still no water. What were they used for?” asks a mother.

REGIDESO acknowledges the crisis, but remains vague

The head of the water service at REGIDESO (the state-owned company responsible for water and electricity distribution) in Ngozi admits that the situation is critical, but provides few details. He cites two main causes :

1. The city’s rapid population growth, which increases demand;
2. The pumps’ dependence on electricity, while the region experiences frequent power outages.

“When electricity is scarce, pumping water becomes impossible,” he concedes.

A health emergency in the making

Faced with this prolonged shortage, residents are sounding the alarm. They fear a resurgence of diseases linked to poor hygiene, particularly among children and the elderly.

“If nothing is done quickly, it’s not just a water crisis, it’s a health crisis that awaits us,” warns a nurse at a local health center.

Calls for action

The population is calling on local and national authorities to act immediately and to audit the efficiency of the built infrastructure. Many are also calling for an emergency plan to supply the most affected neighborhoods, particularly by tanker trucks.