Murembwe Central Prison : hunger, diseases and overcrowding, the ordeal of the inmates

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, June 27, 2026 – Inmates at Murembwe central prison, located in the Gatete zone of ​​Rumonge district, in Burunga province, in the southwest of the small East African nation, have been denouncing particularly harsh detention conditions for several months. Overcrowding, insufficient food, lack of medical care, absence of drinking water, and the proliferation of diseases punctuate their daily lives, according to several concurring sources.

Inmates contacted by SOS Médias Burundi describe a situation they call “alarming.” They claim to be living in conditions that violate the fundamental rights of people deprived of their liberty.

“We are merely surviving, not living. Many inmates are getting sick because they are underfed and sleeping in terrible conditions,” testified a prisoner, speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to the information gathered, inmates receive only one meal a day, usually consisting of beans and cornmeal porridge. This ration is deemed insufficient to meet the nutritional needs of more than 1,600 inmates.

The health situation is equally concerning. Sick inmates reportedly do not receive regular care and are often forced to rely on their families to buy medication or pay for their medical treatment.

Yet, nurses are assigned to the prison. According to the same sources, they carry out their duties under extremely difficult conditions, lacking medication, medical equipment, and adequate supplies.

Overcrowding remains one of the main challenges facing this detention center. Designed to hold approximately 800 inmates, the Murembwe central prison currently hosts more than 1,600 prisoners, double its official capacity.

A police source states that many inmates sleep on the floor due to a lack of beds, mattresses, and bedding. This overcrowding facilitates the spread of disease and makes hygiene conditions particularly difficult.

Inmates also complain about the lack of mosquito nets, even though the facility is located near Lake Tanganyika, an area heavily affected by mosquitoes. This situation increases the risk of malaria. According to several accounts, prisoners with malaria do not always receive necessary antimalarial treatment.

Adding to these difficulties is the lack of access to drinking water. Sources consulted indicate that the prison experiences frequent water shortages, further complicating hygiene conditions and increasing the risk of diseases related to poor sanitation.

Inmates are appealing to Burundian authorities for urgent measures to improve their living conditions, strengthen medical care, and alleviate overcrowding at the facility.

The situation in Murembwe reflects a structural problem affecting the entire Burundian prison system. Nationally, the country’s prisons have a capacity of 4,294 places, while the prison population regularly exceeds 12,000 inmates. Some facilities operate at over 300% of their capacity, worsening detention conditions, facilitating the spread of disease, and exacerbating internal tensions.

Contacted by SOS Médias Burundi, officials at Murembwe central prison and prison authorities had not responded at the time of publication.