Burundi : in Gitega, a shortage of drinking water plunges boarding schools into a health and academic crisis

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, October 22, 2026 — A lack of drinking water in boarding schools in Gitega—located in central Burundi and home to the country’s political capital—is disrupting studies and compromising hygiene conditions for pupils. At the Christ-Roi Technical High School in Mushasha and the Gitega High School, more than 1,800 pupils are struggling with water supply issues. Pupils and administration authorities at both institutions fear an outbreak of diseases linked to poor hygiene and are calling on the authorities to find a sustainable solution.

“We no longer have time to review the material learned in class. For instance, the 3:00 p.m. study session has been scrapped because we have to go fetch water from developed springs around the city of Gitega,” laments 18-year-old Générose Kanyamuneza, a third-year pupil in the Banking and Insurance track at the Christ-Roi Technical High School in Mushasha.

She explains that the water they collect is used primarily for preparing evening meals, which comes at the expense of time that should be dedicated to their studies.

“This affects our academic performance—to the point where we are failing our quizzes miserably,” she adds.

We met her while she was drawing water from a developed spring to meet her school’s needs.

The challenges extend beyond academics. The water shortage also complicates the cleaning of classrooms, the dining hall, and dormitories, while simultaneously compromising the personal hygiene and cleanliness of the pupils’ clothing. “It is difficult to find water for cleaning classrooms, the dining hall, and the dormitories. Worse still, we face challenges regarding personal hygiene and keeping our clothes clean,” says 16-year-old Joëlla Iradukunda, a second-year pupil in the Management Information Systems track at the same institution.

She also points to delays in the preparation and serving of meals.

“Lunch is served between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., while the evening meal might not be served until 11:00 p.m.,” she explains.

We met her while she was washing her clothes in a stream, as there was not enough water available at her school.

More than 1,800 pupils affected across two institutions

Father Remegie Barutwanayo, principal of the Christ-Roi Technical High School in Mushasha, notes that his institution can go more than two weeks without a single drop of potable water flowing from the taps. This situation affects over 1,000 boarding pupils.

Compounding these difficulties is the lack of a vehicle that would allow the school to transport drinking water when the taps run dry.

The situation is similar at Gitega High School, which hosts more than 800 boarding pupils, according to its principal, Brother Deus Bigirimana. This institution also faces significant challenges in securing a water supply.

Fears of diseases linked to poor hygiene

Given this persistent shortage, the administrators of both institutions are concerned about the health risks to which the pupils are exposed. Father Remegie Barutwanayo and Brother Deus Bigirimana are particularly concerned about the emergence of diseases linked to a lack of hygiene—specifically those exacerbated by poor hand hygiene.

Several pupils are washing their uniforms and other clothing in a stream near the city of Gitega in central Burundi due to insufficient water at their schools (SOS Médias Burundi)

They are calling on the relevant authorities to find sustainable solutions to guarantee a regular supply of drinking water to schools with boarding facilities.

REGIDESO addresses power outages

For his part, Lithious Nimbona, head of the water sector in the Central Region at the Water and Electricity Production and Distribution Authority (REGIDESO), states that schools hosting large gatherings, particularly boarding schools, receive priority access to water.

He explains, however, that the frequent power outages disrupt the operation of the distribution system and are the cause of the observed interruptions.

A shortage that extends beyond the city of Gitega

The situation in Gitega is not an isolated case. Disruptions to the drinking water supply are also affecting other localities in Burundi, where outages and insufficient distribution are complicating the daily activities of households and institutions.

In boarding schools, where water is essential for preparing meals, cleaning facilities, and maintaining the hygiene of hundreds of pupils, these interruptions can have particularly serious consequences.

School officials are therefore calling for sustainable measures to ensure regular access to drinking water, protect pupils’ health, and allow for the normal course of school activities.

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Several pupis are fetching water from a marsh near the city of Gitega in central Burundi due to insufficient drinking water supplies at their schools (SOS Médias Burundi)