Pastors and evangelists in Burundi on Monday expressed condolences to the families who lost their loved ones following a deadly stampede that reportedly claimed eight lives and left nine others critically injured after an evangelistic crusade in Bujumbura.
The incident occurred on Saturday July 18, 2026 as a large crowd attempted to leave the venue through the main exit, triggering a stampede that caused a fence to collapse, according to the country’s Ministry of Public Security.
A prominent Burundian evangelist Chris Ndikumana had organized an evangelistic crusade, christened Kanguka (“Wake Up”), in the country’s economic capital, Bujumbura. The event brought together thousands of people from different provinces of Burundi as well as participants from four continents—Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
The crusade, which was also attended by politicians and former government officials, featured worship songs, preaching, testimonies, and thanksgiving.
According to a statement issued late Sunday night, eight people—seven women and one man—died at the scene, while nine others sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at nearby hospitals.
Last Trumpet: Death and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
In his long-awaited sermon, Evangelist Ndikumana preached on the theme “The Last Trumpet,“ drawing from Joel 2:3, Joel 2:13–15, Judges 7:22, and 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17. He called on people to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and to live in readiness for His second coming.
Referring to 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17, Ndikumana reminded the congregation of Jesus’ promise that the Lord will descend from heaven with a loud command, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God.
He emphasized that those who have died in Christ will rise first, after which believers who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever.
Condolence Messages to the Families of the Victims
Speaking during Monday’s Kanguka flagship program aired on WhatsApp, Evangelist Ndikumana expressed sorrow over the tragedy and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
“We received reports that some people encountered problems after leaving the crusade. They were involved in an accident. Some were injured, and others lost their lives. This has deeply saddened us. We are praying for them, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families. We pray that God will strengthen and comfort them.”, he said
His message resonated with many members of the Christian community mourning the loss of fellow worshippers. Pastor Acher Niyonizigiye also expressed his grief in a message posted on his Facebook page, extending condolences to the affected families.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the stampede that occurred after the Kanguka 2026 crusade. Losing a loved one is painful, and it is even more painful when the tragedy could have been prevented. May God strengthen and comfort their hearts,” he wrote
The July 18 gathering marked the second Kanguka crusade held in Burundi, following the inaugural edition in 2023, in Bujumbura, which attracted thousands of worshippers.
The Kanguka ministry, founded by Evangelist Chris Ndikumana, has since hosted several large-scale international evangelistic events, bringing together thousands of people.
In 2023, nearly 200,000 people attended the Kanguka crusade held at Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon. The following year, Ndikumana conducted two other major evangelistic crusades in Gabon and Ivory Coast, while in 2025 he organized another crusade in Ottawa, Canada, bringing together about 17,000 people.
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