Bujumbura : At the Oasis orphanage in Gihosha, children exposed to inadequate care

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, October 22, 2025 – The Oasis orphanage, located in Gihosha, near the Marian Shrine of Schoenstatt – Mont Sion Gikungu, in the north of the commercial capital Bujumbura, is the focus of growing concern. Neighbors and some people who have visited the site denounce the precarious living conditions of the 18 children who reside there, as well as the lack of qualified staff to ensure their medical care and well-being.

According to several testimonies collected by SOS Médias Burundi, those running the orphanage are reportedly resorting to non-medical traditional care practices to treat certain illnesses. “One day, I saw three children, one two-month-old and another ten-month-old, whose uvulas had just been cut,” recounted a shocked person after a visit to the orphanage.
At the orphanage, this practice was reportedly presented as “a common custom,” even though it can lead to serious medical complications, according to health professionals contacted.

Lack of medical examinations and health risks

Sources close to the facility state that the children in the facility do not undergo preliminary medical examinations, including serology tests, before admission. This situation could expose all residents to the risk of contamination in the event of communicable diseases.

Severe lack of qualified staff

Those responsible for caring for the children lack appropriate training, complained several local residents.
“The majority have only a secondary education. Only one or two attended university,” said a local source. According to her, this lack of skills contributes to the poor care of the children, many of whom are still young and require constant care.

An institution in decline since the death of its founder

The Oasis orphanage was founded several years ago by a priest, now deceased about five years ago. He had established it independently, without any official affiliation with the Catholic Church.
Since his death, the management of the facility has reportedly deteriorated significantly. Unlike other similar facilities, Oasis reportedly has neither a doctor nor a nurse to monitor the children’s health, according to several concordant sources.

Call for urgent intervention

Neighbors and residents of the neighborhood are calling on the relevant authorities to intervene quickly.

“These children need appropriate care and proper supervision,” insists a resident.
They are demanding that the residents be transferred to institutions capable of ensuring their safety, health, and development.

Contacted by SOS Médias Burundi, officials from the General Directorate for Children’s Rights were unavailable for comment.