Gitega : inheritance dispute turns tragedy, a man kills his older brother with a machete

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, July 13, 2026 — What was supposed to be a family gathering to divide an inheritance turned into tragedy on the afternoon of Saturday, July 11, in the Nyamugari neighborhood of Gitega, the political capital of Burundi. A man was killed with a machete by his younger brother following an argument over the division of a family plot of land, according to local sources.

According to a witness, the eight children of the late Pascal Nkurabakana had gathered to divide a plot of land located at the 5th Avenue, plot n°34, in the Nyamugari neighborhood. However, the discussions failed to reach an agreement and quickly escalated into a heated argument among several family members.

During the fight, Jean Paul Nduwumukama allegedly grabbed a machete and seriously wounded his older brother, Jean Pierre Nduwayezu. The latter succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The facts were confirmed by Eddy Niyonkuru, one of the local elected officials of the Nyamugari neighborhood. According to him, the murder stemmed from a land dispute. He also indicated that after the investigation by the Judicial Police Officer (OPJ) in charge of the case, the victim’s body was transferred to the morgue of the Gitega Regional Hospital.

Following this tragedy, several residents of the Nyamugari neighborhood are demanding that the alleged perpetrator be swiftly brought to justice in a summary trial.

Land disputes remain one of the main sources of tension and violence in Burundi, particularly in inheritance cases. Gitega regularly ranks among the provinces most affected by this type of dispute, fueled by land pressure, the scarcity of arable land, and inheritance disputes. An investigation is underway to establish all the circumstances of this murder.