Bujumbura faces a crisis of public latrines : residents denounce a fine deemed unfair

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, November 12, 2025 – A new government measure has sparked anger among residents of the commercial capital. Since the publication of a joint decree by the Ministers of Finance and the Interior, dated October 9, 2025, anyone caught urinating or defecating in a public place without designated facilities is subject to a fine of 5,000 Burundi francs.

This decision has been met with strong disapproval from a population that denounces the near-total absence of public toilets in the city.

“It’s astonishing to see the State imposing a fine whereas it doesn’t provide any alternative solutions,” laments a shopkeeper in the city center.

For many city residents, the measure is considered unfair and premature. They believe that before imposing sanctions, the government should build public latrines.

“Building public toilets should be a priority to address this problem,” argues a regular resident of the capital.

The current situation forces many people to relieve themselves in unsuitable places due to a lack of sufficient infrastructure. The few toilets installed by private individuals charge a fee, which can reach 500 Burundi francs per use—a cost deemed excessive by users.

This lack of sanitation infrastructure poses a risk to public health and undermines the city’s efforts to maintain urban cleanliness. Residents are therefore calling on the authorities to reconsider the measure and invest first in building public latrines before imposing sanctions.

In the meantime, the population of Bujumbura continues to struggle between the need to respect the law and the glaring lack of spaces suitable for their basic needs.