REGIDESO in Bujumbura : shortages, overcurrent, and abandonment of subscribers

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, January 16, 2026 – In Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital, the anger of REGIDESO subscribers remains high. The state-owned company responsible for the production and distribution of water and electricity in urban areas is facing fierce criticism for the persistent deterioration of its services. Between neighborhoods plunged into darkness for years and areas exposed to dangerous power surges, users are denouncing a failing public service.

Ngagara : darkness as a daily reality

In neighborhoods 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Ngagara zone, in the Ntahangwa district in the north of the city, several residents say they have been living without electricity at night—and sometimes even during the day—for more than eight years. Residents no longer consider this situation to be mere outages, but rather a persistent failure of the public service.

“At nightfall, it’s terrifying,” confides N.E., a resident of the area. Children are forced to study by candlelight, a situation strongly condemned by parents, who cite risks to eye health and the danger of fire if candles are not properly extinguished before bedtime.

Only a few households with sufficient financial means manage to equip themselves with solar panels, leaving the majority of the population in a state of prolonged energy insecurity. This situation exacerbates inequalities within the same city.

Outdated infrastructure blamed

The residents of Ngagara point to the state of the electrical infrastructure. They are asking REGIDESO to replace the old underground electrical installations, deemed outdated and inefficient, with more reliable and easier-to-maintain overhead lines.

Significant economic losses

The repeated power outages also have serious economic consequences. Vendors of perishable goods, particularly milk, are suffering significant losses due to a lack of refrigeration. The problem of charging mobile phones is also recurring : some residents are forced to travel to the Mukaza district in the city center to recharge their devices, incurring additional transportation costs.

Nyakabiga: when excess becomes danger

Unlike Ngagara, the Nyakabiga zone, located in the city center, faces another electrical grid malfunction : power surges. Residents report frequent breakdowns of household appliances and fear house fires.

“At night, we live in fear,” testifies a resident of Nyakabiga 3 who requested anonymity. According to him, the power surge poses a real risk to the safety of people and property. He also laments that REGIDESO systematically denies responsibility for fires attributed to the quality of the electricity supply.

An unbalanced network and questionable governance

For many subscribers, the coexistence of power shortages and surges reveals an aging, poorly maintained electrical grid ill-suited to Bujumbura’s urban expansion. The lack of sufficient modernization and effective grid balancing mechanisms highlights deep structural flaws.

Beyond the technical aspects, users denounce a lack of communication, the absence of clear compensation mechanisms, and a weak response to complaints—all factors that undermine trust between REGIDESO and the population.

Calls for sustainable solutions

Faced with this situation, subscribers are calling on REGIDESO to fully assume its public service mission by modernizing its infrastructure and guaranteeing a fair, stable, and secure electricity distribution. Without profound reforms, they warn, power outages and the risks associated with surges will continue to symbolize the failure of a public service that is nevertheless essential to the development of Burundi’s commercial capital.