Burundi : landowners denounce a “hidden tax” behind the securing of land titles
SOS Médias Burundi
Bujumbura, March 22, 2026—The Burundian government has launched an operation to secure land titles, accompanied by acquisition fees, a measure that is already generating mixed reactions among landowners across the country.
In an official letter dated March 17, 2026, the Director of Land Titles and the National Cadastre, Salomon Nibigira, announced the implementation of this procedure, in accordance with the general budget of the Republic of Burundi for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The statement sets April 30, 2026, as the deadline for submitting land titles in order to pay the fees associated with acquiring secure land titles.
The application process will take place in several centers across the country, including Bujumbura, the commercial capital; Gitega, the political capital; Makamba, the town center of Burunga province in the south; and Ngozi, the town center of Butanyerera province in the north.
To complete their application, applicants must provide several documents, including the original land title and a copy, a notarized power of attorney if they are represented, their tax identification number for legal entities, and a copy of their national identity card or passport.
On the ground, this measure is far from being unanimously accepted. Many land title holders criticize the deadline as being too short, given the large number of people who are still struggling to locate their documents or regularize their land ownership. Others describe it as a maneuver likely to penalize those who fail to meet the deadline.
Some voices go further, believing that this initiative is part of a strategy to increase the mobilization of financial resources to support the ongoing national budget. “It’s additional pressure on citizens,” confides a worried landowner.
At this stage, many questions remain unanswered regarding the concrete implementation details. Land title holders are thus awaiting the actual launch of the operation, scheduled for March 23, 2026, to obtain further clarification on this reform, which could significantly impact the Burundian land sector.
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