Why Every Business in Bujumbura Needs a Website in 2026

Many business owners in Bujumbura rely solely on Facebook pages and WhatsApp to reach customers. While social media is important, it has a fundamental limitation: you do not own it. Facebook can change its algorithm tomorrow, reduce your page's visibility, or even suspend your account. A website is the only digital asset you fully control.

The Numbers

85% of consumers in East Africa research businesses online before making a purchase decision. If your business does not have a website, you are invisible to these customers. They will find your competitor who does.

There are over 2 million internet users in Burundi. The majority access the internet through smartphones. A mobile-optimized website loads on these phones in seconds and gives customers everything they need: your products, your prices, your location, and a way to contact you.

What a Website Does That Social Media Cannot

You appear on Google. When someone searches "hotel Bujumbura" or "imprimerie Bujumbura," Google shows websites — not Facebook pages. Without a website, you are locked out of the largest discovery platform in the world.

You control the experience. On Facebook, your business page looks like every other business page. On your own website, you decide the layout, the colors, the flow. You guide customers from interest to purchase without distractions from competitor ads.

You collect customer data. A website with a contact form gives you email addresses and phone numbers that belong to you. A Facebook follower belongs to Facebook. If your account disappears, those followers are gone.

You build trust. Customers perceive businesses with professional websites as more established and reliable. A well-designed site with clear pricing, testimonials, and contact information signals that you are a serious operation.

What It Costs

A professional website in Burundi costs between $1,500 and $6,000 depending on complexity. A simple landing page with your services, location, and contact form starts at $1,500. A full e-commerce site with payment integration (M-Pesa, Lumicash, bank transfer) costs $6,000 to $12,000.

Hosting costs $10 to $50 per month. Domain registration is $10 to $15 per year.

For context, Murukali — Rwanda's first e-commerce platform — started with a simple website before growing into a full marketplace. The investment in a website was the foundation for everything that followed.

The Mobile-First Requirement

Any website built for the Burundian market must be mobile-first. This means:

• It loads in under 3 seconds on a 3G connection
• Text is readable without zooming
• Buttons are large enough to tap with a thumb
• Forms are short (name, phone, message — nothing more)
• Images are compressed so they do not use excessive mobile data

A website that loads slowly or looks broken on a phone will lose customers instead of gaining them.

When to Build One

Now. The cost of waiting is measured in customers you are losing every day to competitors who have already built their online presence. Every month without a website is a month of searches, leads, and sales going to someone else.

Start with a single-page website. List what you do, where you are, and how to contact you. Add your Google Business Profile link. Connect your WhatsApp. This minimum viable website can be live within two weeks and immediately start capturing customers who would otherwise never find you.