Makamba : three hospital staff arrested for alleged embezzling nearly 10 million Burundi francs

SOS Médias Burundi

Makamba, October 19, 2025 — Three employees of the Makamba hospital in Burunga province, southern Burundi, all members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, were arrested on Thursday, October 16, by the police.
They are suspected of embezzling nearly ten million Burundi francs by manipulating the billing system.
This case highlights both the weakness of internal controls and persistent staff discontent since the 2024 salary reform.

According to consistent internal sources, the three arrested staff—Yvonne Nizeyimana, Christophe Mugisha, and Josué, an IT specialist—worked in the payment collection department. They allegedly implemented a mechanism allowing them to cancel or modify invoices already paid by patients, before entering false amounts into the computerized billing system.

Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that approximately ten million Burundi francs has already disappeared. However, it remains difficult to determine when this embezzlement began, according to staff members.

Slashed salaries and a climate of demotivation

This scandal occurs in a tense social climate. Since the implementation of the new 2024 salary policy, several contract employees have denounced significant reductions in their salaries.
Some claim to have lost between 130,000 and 160,000 Burundi francs per month, following a recalculation deemed arbitrary of the employment portion and the salary index portion.

The Administrative and Financial Director, Herbert Barashingwa, is criticized by several employees for his management, which he considers “unfair and opaque.” Some accuse him of imposing these adjustments without consultation or transparency.

Silence at the top

When contacted, the hospital’s management provided no official explanation for this matter. Attempts to reach administration officials were unsuccessful.

Pending the outcome of the police investigation, the case reveals a deep malaise within this public healthcare facility, where a lack of trust and demotivation among staff are now compounded by suspicions of internal corruption.