Kirundo : two health officials and their driver arrested in an alleged drug embezzlement case

SOS Médias Burundi

Kirundo, February 18, 2026 – Three people were arrested on February 16, 2026, in Vumbi, Kirundo district, Butanyerera province, northern Burundi, in connection with an alleged embezzlement of medications and nutritional products intended for patients. They include two officials from the Busoni health district – Dr. Narcisse Ntahondi and pharmacist Liévin Havugarurema – as well as their driver, Adronis Nyakamasa. All three are held in the Kirundo prosecutor’s office jail.

A forceful interception after two refusals to comply

According to local sources, the three men had left the region that morning in a double-cab service vehicle, license plate C GB 424, heading towards Bujumbura, the commercial capital where their supervising ministry is based. Officially, the trip was for the purpose of supplying medicines to the district’s health facilities.

Near Vumbi, law enforcement officers attempted a first routine check. The driver reportedly refused to stop despite the officers’ orders. A second attempt, near Rurata, also failed, as the driver accelerated instead of complying with the orders. The vehicle was finally stopped after a rope was stretched across the road to block its path.

A sensitive cargo discovered on board

A search of the vehicle revealed two bags hidden in the back. The first bag contained a large quantity of various medications mixed with sachets of Plumpy’Nut, a ready-to-use therapeutic paste (RUTF) made from peanut paste, powdered milk, vegetable oil, sugar, vitamins, and minerals, used to treat severe acute malnutrition in children and adults. The second bag contained only Plumpy’Nut.

When questioned by police, the two health workers claimed not to know the exact contents of the bags, which they said had been entrusted to them by the head of the Mukerwa health center, named Eric, who presented it as a shipment of food for his family. The driver, Adronis Nyakamasa, gave a similar account. However, no convincing explanation was provided for the repeated refusal to comply with inspections.

Bags loaded at the head of the health center’s residence

Investigators discovered that the bags had not been taken to the Mukerwa health center, contrary to initial reports. According to multiple sources, the driver allegedly loaded the two bags directly at the home of the health center’s owner, located in the town of Kirundo, before heading towards Bujumbura. Upon being informed of the arrest, the health center owner fled and remains at large.

Court appearance postponed after lengthy questioning

The three suspects were initially scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. After more than five hours of questioning, the prosecutor’s office forwarded their case files to the appropriate court. According to judicial sources, the hearing could be held on Thursday, pending the completion of administrative procedures.

The case has sparked strong reactions in the Kirundo region, as the investigation will need to determine the exact responsibilities of each individual in this sensitive matter concerning the supply chain of medicines and nutritional inputs intended for public health facilities.