Cibitoke : 5 years in jail for spreading false rumors about an alleged penis theft

SOS Médias Burundi

Cibitoke, March 10, 2026 — The Cibitoke First Instance Court sentenced a man to five years in prison on Monday, March 9, for claiming his penis had been stolen. The incident occurred in the Nyakagunda neighborhood, Rugombo zone, in the district of Cibitoke, Bujumbura province, western Burundi. The court condemned the unfounded rumor that fueled the panic observed in recent days in several parts of the country.

The Cibitoke First Instance Court handed down a five-year prison sentence on Monday, March 9, to a 38-year-old man, father of three, from the Nyakagunda neighborhood, Rugombo zone, in the district of Cibitoke. He was accused of spreading panic by claiming his penis had disappeared after being touched by unknown individuals.

For the past few days, a rumor of “organ theft” has been circulating in various regions of the small east African nation. Some claim that individuals, presented as Congolese, are touching passersby, after which men report having lost their genitals and women their breasts.

However, according to the Cibitoke prosecutor’s office, investigations have established that the accused’s statements were false. Judicial authorities have confirmed that the man still possesses his organ and that it shows no abnormalities.

Warning from the justice system

The president of the Cibitoke First Instance Court has warned anyone who spreads false information or attempts to exploit this rumor to disturb public order. He warned that anyone caught spreading panic or inciting unrest, particularly by carrying suspicious items such as string or other paraphernalia, would be considered an enemy of the nation and prosecuted immediately to quickly restore calm to the country.

On Sunday, March 8, in Rumonge, a port city in Burunga province in the south, ten people were sentenced for spreading rumors of organ trafficking. Last week, similar rumors circulated in the Buyenzi zone of ​​Bujumbura, the commercial capital, causing tension and panic among the population.