Residents of Gikungu Quarter, Gihosha Zone, Ntahangwa Commune, Bujumbura Province, are calling on REGIDESO to urgently resolve a prolonged electricity outage that has affected their neighborhood since the beginning of June 2026.
According to residents, the outage reportedly resulted from electrical cables that caught fire, were damaged, and subsequently fell, particularly near a Pentecostal church close to Gikungu Market.
Since the incident occurred, residents say they have repeatedly reported the problem to REGIDESO. However, they claim that no lasting solution has been provided. They particularly criticize what they describe as repeated promises that technicians would come to repair the fault, promises that have so far remained unfulfilled.
The prolonged outage is having a serious impact on both households and local economic activities. Several small businesses whose operations depend directly on electricity have been severely affected. These include traders selling milk, meat, and other products that require refrigeration, as well as welders, hairdressers, and other service providers whose businesses depend on electrical power.
For these residents, the situation is therefore not merely an inconvenience. It represents a significant loss of income and is directly affecting families who rely on these businesses for their livelihoods.
Residents have also raised concerns about security. According to their accounts, the persistent lack of electricity and lighting has increased the level of insecurity in the area, as darkness reportedly creates favorable conditions for thieves and other criminals to operate.
Faced with a situation that has continued for several weeks, the residents of Gikungu are urging REGIDESO management to take immediate and concrete action to restore electricity to the affected area.
They say they find it difficult to understand how what they consider a localized and identifiable technical problem could remain unresolved for such a long period, despite repeated reports and complaints to the relevant authorities.
King Umurundi Freedom Organization joins the residents in calling on REGIDESO to give this matter the urgent attention it deserves and to provide a concrete solution to the legitimate concerns of the people of Gikungu.