Gabby Bugaga, Burundi’s minister of communication and media, died early Thursday in a road accident, according to an official communiqué issued by the presidency, confirming earlier local reports.
The statement, signed by Secretary General of the State Jérôme Niyonzima, said Bugaga’s death was “sudden” and followed an accident, but provided no details on the circumstances. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced separately according to Gitega.
Before the official confirmation, local media and social media accounts had reported that Bugaga was found dead in his car that sustained severe impact and damage on the road linking Bujumbura and Bubanza.
Images and video circulating online, appear to show a damaged pickup truck off the roadway in a rural area lined with palm trees. The footage suggests the vehicle left the road before coming to a stop.
Bugaga had served as minister of communication and media since August 2025, when President Évariste Ndayishimiye appointed him in a cabinet reshuffle that reduced the number of ministries as part of a streamlined government structure. He replaced Léocadie Ndacayisaba, who moved to the Senate.
As minister, Bugaga oversaw government media policy, public information and relations with both state and private outlets in a tightly regulated media environment. His tenure came as Burundi continued gradual reforms to its press framework following years of restrictions that intensified after the 2015 Burundian coup attempt.
A revised press law adopted in 2024 removed prison sentences for certain media-related offences, while other regulations including limits on publishing partial election results without approval from the Independent National Electoral Commission have drawn criticism from press freedom groups.
Bugaga’s career spanned from journalism and public service. He began at the state broadcaster RTNB before moving into communications roles in the National Assembly and Senate. He later served as spokesperson for the Senate president and, in 2023, joined the electoral commission overseeing logistics and procurement ahead of the 2025 polls.
Bugaga’s death leaves a vacancy at the head of the communications ministry at a time when Burundi is preparing for a presidential election in 2027. No successor had been announced as of Thursday.
The government typically communicates the deaths of senior officials through formal statements, and Thursday’s communiqué marked the first official confirmation after hours of unverified reports.
The circumstances of the accident remain unclear.
