Bubanza : selective water distribution, anger grows in the district town center

SOS Médias Burundi

Bubanza, October 13, 2025 – As water shortages worsen in the center of the Bubanza district town center, residents are denouncing unequal distribution between neighborhoods. Accusations of favoritism and corruption are targeting REGIDESO agents, amid growing anger.

In the center of the Bubanza district town center, in Bujumbura province, western Burundi, water is becoming a scarce commodity and a source of injustice. While some neighborhoods benefit from regular distribution, others experience a real ordeal, sometimes going several days without a single drop from the tap.

According to several residents, REGIDESO—the public company responsible for water distribution—is doing selective distribution. In the northern neighborhoods, particularly Matonge and Kizungu, the taps run every day, from morning to night. However, in the southwest neighborhoods such as Nabubu, Gisovu 1, and Gisovu 2, even though they are located in the city center, residents can go up to four days without water.

“We don’t understand why some people have water all the time while we have to wait almost a week,” complains a resident of Gisovu 2, holding an empty yellow container.

Valves closed, tips demand

According to several reports, this situation is the result of deliberate manipulation of the network by certain REGIDESO agents.
The distribution valves are reportedly opened or closed selectively, sometimes in exchange for tips.

“We’re told that if we want water more often, we have to ‘motivate’ the agents,” confides a visibly exasperated resident of Nabubu.

Fragile and sabotaged infrastructure

The water supplying Bubanza comes from springs located in the Kibira forest, several kilometers away. The pipelines are long and vulnerable. Farmers sometimes divert the pipes to irrigate their fields, causing leaks and supply disruptions.

Residents also denounce the slow pace of repairs :

“When a pipe breaks, you have to wait days, sometimes weeks, before REGIDESO intervenes,” laments a downtown merchant.

Endless queues at public standpipes

Faced with water shortages, some residents turn to the public standpipes located behind the town center.
But here again, the situation turns into chaos : long queues form at dawn, and jostling is common to get a few liters of water.

“We get up at 4 a.m. to get water, otherwise we bring back empty cans,” says a young girl we met at the Gisovu water point.

A parallel water trade

In this context of scarcity, an informal trade has developed. Bicycle taxis now transport water cans sold for 1,000 Burundi francs each, a heavy burden for the poorest households.

A growing health risk

The center of Bubanza is experiencing rapid population growth, fueled by rural exodus. But without regular access to drinking water, residents fear a resurgence of waterborne diseases.

“We live in fear of cholera or typhoid. Clean water is a vital need, not a privilege,” says a teacher from the Gisovu 1 neighborhood.

Call for transparency

Residents are now demanding greater transparency and fairness in the management of water distribution. They are calling on REGIDESO to explain why certain areas are being favored and to act quickly to restore fair and continuous service.