Twenty-five Burundian nationals have been sentenced to one year in prison after failing to pay a fine of 250,000 Tanzanian shillings each, imposed by the Kisutu Primary Court in Tanzania for lacking legal residency documents.
According to The Citizen, a Tanzanian news outlet, the fine was issued on June 4, 2025, as punishment for staying in the country illegally. The Burundians, however, were unable to pay the amount.
Aron Lyamuya, the president of the Kisutu Primary Court, stated that these individuals were convicted for being in Tanzania without valid documents—a crime punishable under Tanzanian immigration law.
On June 4, 2025, the Kisutu Primary Court sentenced them to either one year in prison or a fine of 250,000 Tanzanian shillings. Since they failed to pay, they were taken into custody.
Some of the names revealed by The Citizen include: Manirambona Atanasi, Igirinya Elvis, Ndihokubwayo J. Marie, Manariyo Ezekiel, Ndereyimana Elvis, and 20 others who were with them.
According to Judge Lyamuya, these individuals face no other charges besides residing in Tanzania without legal documentation.
