Bujumbura : the Prime Minister demands results from public enterprises despite meager state investments

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, September 24, 2025 – Meeting on Tuesday in Bujumbura, the commercial capital where United Nations agencies and the central administration are concentrated, the heads of public and parastatal companies were severely reprimanded by Prime Minister Nestor Ntahontuye. The state, which holds shares in certain institutions such as the Commercial Bank of Burundi (Bancobu), criticized the leaders for their poor performance and their inability to make limited public investments profitable.

During this meeting, the Prime Minister particularly targeted Regideso, responsible for water and electricity distribution, denouncing the lack of results despite the massive resources mobilized by the state.

“Water and electricity are the driving force of development. Without positive results, the country cannot move forward,” he insisted.

Regideso’s Director General, Jean Albert Manigomba, defended his management :

“I totally oppose this statement. The current results are satisfactory.”

He explained that, despite the devaluation of the Burundi franc, tariffs have not been increased, and that the company now has more than three billion Burundi francs. However, he pointed out the difficulty of accessing foreign currencies to purchase equipment :

“We have just spent three years waiting for foreign currencies to pay our suppliers. How can you expect citizens to benefit from quality service under these conditions?”

The problem also affects the banking sector. Trinitas Girukwishaka, Managing Director of the Commercial Bank of Burundi (Bancobu), denounced the Central Bank’s restrictions preventing foreign currency invoicing :

“How can we repay our debts if we are not allowed to receive payments in foreign currencies?”

The Prime Minister reiterated that leaders must find innovative solutions and investments with rapid returns, while facilitating the work of economic operators.

To strengthen transparency, he asked ministers to require all public enterprises to submit :

their financial statements,

the balance sheet for the 2024 fiscal year,

the income statement.

All companies have until October 31, 2025, to comply.

While the State continues to mobilize modest resources, the ball is now in the court of public enterprises : to demonstrate that good governance and performance are possible, even under constraints.