Musema : two fires in one week at the girls’ dormitory, one pupil dead and extensive damage

SOS Médias Burundi

Butanyerera, November 25, 2025 – A new fire broke out on Tuesday morning, November 25, in the girls’ dormitory of the Musema boarding school in Matongo district, Butanyerera province, northern Burundi. One pupil lost her life and numerous school supplies were destroyed. This tragedy comes less than a week after a first fire occurred overnight at the same school.

One pupil killed and a dormitory completely destroyed

The fire started as the pupils were leaving the dormitory to go to class. The flames quickly consumed uniforms, notebooks, books, beds, and mattresses.

According to witnesses, “everything burned in a few minutes,” leaving the pupils in a state of shock.

This second fire has struck a school still reeling from the first blaze, which occurred on the night of November 18th, around 7 p.m., and had already destroyed another girls’ dormitory.

A look back at the first fire of November 18th

According to Pontien Kubwayo, the school’s principal, the November 18th fire was caused by a short circuit due to worn electrical wires.

The material damage was extensive :

67 beds,

85 mattresses,

and all the school and personal belongings of 107 female pupils.

“The children couldn’t save anything; they were crying, completely distraught,” he recounts.

Two fires in seven days : growing concern

The administrator of the Matongo district, Janvière Kanyana, says she is deeply concerned by the repeated fires :

“We will request an urgent inspection of the electrical installations.”

She specifies that she will request the intervention of Regideso, the only state-owned company responsible for water and electricity distribution in Burundi.

This new fire comes the day after the visit of the governor of Butanyerera, who came to deliver emergency aid to the pupils affected by the first fire. The distributed goods were also destroyed.

The pupils demand an investigation

Shocked, several pupils say they don’t understand why only the girls’ dormitories were affected. Some are calling for a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the fires and identify any potential liability.

A call for solidarity

Principal Kubwayo makes an urgent appeal :

“We are asking benefactors to support these pupils. They have lost everything twice in one week, just as the first-term exams are approaching.”

School authorities are conducting an assessment of the urgent needs to restore basic living conditions.