Burundi : two bodies found in two days in Bugendana; suspected murders reignite concerns

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, October 9, 2026 — Two lifeless bodies have been discovered within the span of two days in Bugendana district, Gitega Province, in central Burundi. The circumstances surrounding these deaths remain to be established. While three people have been detained following the discovery of a 48-year-old woman’s body, local residents are calling for credible investigations to shed light on both cases.

The body of Pascasie Ntirampeba was found on Wednesday, October 7, in a valley in Masango village. According to a witness, the victim was discovered in a field of beans and maize. The same source claims she had been tied up and killed before her body was abandoned at the site.

Léopold Ndayizeye, the chief of Masango village, confirmed the discovery. He stated that the exact circumstances of the death and any potential motive have not yet been officially established. However, a land dispute is among the hypotheses being considered.

Three suspects detained

According to Léopold Ndayizeye, three people were arrested on the day the body was found. They are Remegie and Thaddée—identified as the victim’s brothers—and Abel Sahimana, the chief of Mutaho village.

The three suspects have been taken to police cells in Mutaho, where they are detained as part of the investigation. Their potential involvement in the death of Pascasie Ntirampeba has not been established.

Second body found the previous day

The day before, on Tuesday, October 6, the body of 58-year-old Claver Mpamirubusa was discovered at the bottom of a ravine approximately eight meters deep in Nyangungu village, in the same district.

According to the village chief, Élie Hategekimana, the man had reportedly consumed illicit alcohol before falling into the ravine. This explanation is disputed by some residents, who suspect he may have been killed before his body was dumped into the pit.

These suspicions remain unconfirmed. Nevertheless, residents are calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances of his death to determine whether it was an accident or a criminal act.

Nearly 90 bodies found or murder cases reported since January

Gitega Province is among the regions of Burundi affected by the recurring discovery of lifeless bodies and other concerning human rights violations. These incidents fuel residents’ anxieties and renew calls for credible investigations to establish the circumstances of the deaths, identify those allegedly responsible, and combat impunity.

According to a tally by SOS Médias Burundi, nearly 90 bodies have been found or murder cases reported in Gitega Province since the beginning of the year.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, Fortuné Gaëtan Zongo, has also raised the alarm regarding the persistence of serious human rights violations in the country. In his reports and statements before the Human Rights Council, he has notably cited information pointing to summary or extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances. He called on Burundian authorities to conduct thorough investigations, prosecute those allegedly responsible, and put an end to impunity.

Catholic bishops denounce unexplained deaths

Last June, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Burundi (CECAB) expressed concern over the recurring discovery of lifeless bodies in various parts of the country. In their statement, the bishops lamented that the perpetrators of these crimes had not been identified or brought to justice. They also denounced detention conditions deemed concerning and called for respect for fundamental rights.

President Évariste Ndayishimiye reacted strongly to this criticism. On June 16, during a meeting of the National Social Protection Commission in Bujumbura, he accused certain civil society organizations—specifically the Catholic Church—of “politicizing poverty” and merely “jeering at the State,” faulting them for criticizing the authorities without proposing sufficient concrete actions.

While the circumstances surrounding the two deaths in Bugendana remain to be clarified, residents are awaiting thorough and impartial investigations to establish the facts and ensure that any responsible parties are identified and prosecuted.