MUKAZA, April 10 (ABP) – The minister in charge of finance, Alain Ndikumana, accompanied by the commissioner general of the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR), carried out a field visit on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in the city of Bujumbur a to verify the use of billing machines, a check on site by ABP has revealed.
During this operation conducted in several commercial neighborhoods of Bujumbura, Minister Ndikumana noted numerous irregularities. Some traders do not use the billing machines now available to them, while others issue non-compliant invoices.
Yet, more than 13,000 machines have been distributed across the country. The authorities now have technological tools capable of identifying those that remain inactive, which constitutes a clear indicator of fraud or negligence, he said.
Failure to comply with tax obligations exposes offenders to severe penalties, Minister Ndikumana emphasized, recalling that the law does not punish only the offending trader, but also the customer who does not request a receipt. He pointed out that anyone found without a receipt is liable to a fine equivalent to 20% of the purchase amount, in addition to the possible seizure of the goods concerned.
During this operation, some equipment was indeed confiscated for further verification. Moreover, the authorities insist on the civic dimension of taxation. “Taxes are not paid by traders, but by citizens,” Ndikumana recalled, stressing that these resources are essential to finance the country’s development projects. He thus urged every economic actor to play their role by ensuring transparency in transactions and compliance with tax obligations. At a time when Burundi is relying on its internal resources to build its future, the receipt becomes much more than a simple proof of purchase: it stands as a true civic act at the heart of the social contract, declared Minister Ndikumana.
It should be noted that this operation, launched simultaneously across the entire national territory, marks the beginning of a series of similar actions that will be carried out continuously.