At least eight people were killed and nine others injured in a stampede at the end of the Kanguka evangelical crusade held at ETS Kamenge in Burundi’s commercial capital, Bujumbura, police said.
The victims were caught in a crowd crush as thousands of worshippers attempted to leave the venue after the Saturday evangelical gathering, according to Burundi Police.
Ministry of Public Security spokesperson Pierre Nkurikiye told local media on Sunday that the dead included seven women and one man.
Nine other people were injured and taken to nearby medical facilities, including Roi Khaled Hospital and the Military Hospital, both located close to the crusade venue.
According to police, the stampede occurred after the main entrance to the stadium grounds collapsed during the crowd’s exit, triggering panic and a deadly crush.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos as attendees struggled to leave the packed venue.
“I was also terrified while trying to get out,” one attendee told Breaking Burundi. “Only God helped me reach Roi Khaled Hospital. It was extremely difficult to get out. I didn’t even understand what was happening.”
Another witness said the crowd was so dense that people who fell had little chance of getting back on their feet.
“There were so many people that if someone fell, there was no way to stop and help them because of the pressure of the crowd,” the witness said.
In Monday’s edition of his Kanguka broadcast, evangelist Chris Ndikumana expressed sorrow over the deaths and injuries.
“We learned that some people encountered problems at the end of the crusade. Some were injured, while others unfortunately lost their lives. This deeply saddened us. We pray for them and extend our condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. We pray that God will give them strength,” local news outlet Iris quoted Ndikumana as saying.
The Kanguka crusade is organized by Burundian evangelist Chris Ndikumana––who has more than one million followers on YouTube––and has been held in Burundi and several other countries.
“Kanguka,” which translates as “Wake Up,” began as a prayer program shared through WhatsApp groups reportedly in late 2015 before evolving into large-scale evangelical crusades that attract hundreds of thousands of participants. Saturday’s event was the second Kanguka crusade held in Burundi, following a similar gathering in Bujumbura in 2023.
