Buhumuza – scandal : a stillborn child disappears at Ruyigi hospital

SOS Médias Burundi

Ruyigi, October 1, 2025 – On the night of September 21, a couple lost their first child, stillborn in the maternity ward of Ruyigi District Hospital, in Buhumuza Province, eastern Burundi. But the tragedy took a disturbing turn : the body mysteriously disappeared. Amidst grief and incomprehension, the family demanded answers.

According to the nurse on duty, F.H., the baby was born stillborn around 2 a.m. Due to the lack of a functioning morgue—the cold rooms were “dirty and out of order”—the body was apparently wrapped in a sheet and left in the waiting room.

“We were told to wait to collect the body, but a few hours later, it was gone,” recounts N.C., the mother, in tears.

Police kept at arm’s length

Immediately alerted, the police were reportedly prevented from intervening by the hospital director, Dr. Rénovat Ndayizeye, who reportedly prohibited any searches of the premises. The population of Ruyigi is wondering : was this simple negligence or a cover-up?

Damning testimonies

Healthcare workers, speaking anonymously, denounce “opaque practices” and recall similar cases that have gone unreported. Some discuss the behavior of new recruits, accused of poor ethics and political favoritism :
“Many boast of holding their positions thanks to the CNDD-FDD and consider themselves untouchable,” confides an employee.

This is not the first scandal at the Ruyigi maternity ward. In 2023, cases of negligence were reported, in which babies were born on the floor.

Parental rights violated

The Burundian law provides for the return of remains, including those of stillborn children, to allow for a dignified burial.
“Preventing a burial is depriving parents of fundamental rights,” emphasizes a legal expert.

For the parents, the priority is clear : “We simply want to bury our child and mourn,” they say.

Reminder : the incident in Karusi

A few days ago, in the neighboring province of Gitega, at the “Natwe Turashoboye” hospital in Karusi, an identification error in the morgue led to a body being returned to the wrong family. Two women with the same first name were mistaken for each other, forcing relatives to initiate exhumation procedures to recover the real body. This incident highlights the shortcomings in the management of morgues in the province and the need to strengthen procedures.

A question that remains unanswered

Public opinion is wondering : will this stillborn child one day have the right to a dignified burial?

These tragic incidents highlight the urgent need to improve mortuary management and respect for family rights throughout the country.