In Burundi, access to justice remains fraught with obstacles, despite notable progress in recent years. Conflicts over land are common, and even educated Burundians often lack understanding of legal procedures and the requirements involved. Over the past three years, Cordaid Burundi has introduced an innovative way to bring justice closer to citizens: Legal Clinics.
These clinics provide free legal advice and representation for people who would otherwise have no means of accessing the courts.
Eugenie, a woman in her seventies, is one of the clinic’s visitors. Her struggle to reclaim her late parents’ land was long and painful. ‘At a very troubling time, I learned of the existence of a legal clinic in Makamba,’ she recalls.
A Battle Over Family Land
Eugenie was born into a family of three daughters. She married at 18. Not long after both her parents passed away, a man appeared, claiming that the land belonging to Eugenie’s parents was his. He filed a complaint against her.
‘Recovering the land was difficult,’ Eugenie says. ‘I frequently went to court to ask for the outcome of the case. The process lasted more than 12 years. People thought that since I was living far away, I wouldn’t be able to continue.’
At first, the local residential court ruled in Eugenie’s favour, confirming that the property was hers. But when the case went to appeal, the decision was reversed, and the land was awarded to the other claimant.
Eugenie: ‘I took the case to a higher level. Unfortunately, there was another unexpected event. My cousins joined forces with the man claiming the land. They intimidated me into dropping the trial. They said I would be imprisoned if I continued the case.’
Finding Help and a Sense of Freedom
Amid the turmoil, Eugenie discovered the Makamba Legal Clinic, part of Cordaid Burundi’s Access to Justice programme. ‘They gave me a lawyer. He assisted me, and I won my case. I held on thanks to the programme’s support. When they told me I could get help in this case, I couldn’t believe it. The legal clinic officers reassured me and told me to stay quiet. The legal clinic changed my life.’
Watch Eugenie’s story:
Changing Lives Across Burundi
Eugenie’s story is not unique. Enos, the uncle of a young girl who survived rape, also turned to the Makamba Legal Clinic for help. ‘The clinic provided me with a lawyer,’ he says. ‘I am satisfied with the way the trial went.’
By April 2025, the Access to Justice Project had provided legal assistance to around 2,763 women and 3,419 men, ensuring that thousands of people like Eugenie and Enos were not left to face the courts alone.
Watch Enos’ story:
The Access to Justice Project is funded by the European Union through the Embassy of the Netherlands in Burundi.