The Gatumba zone is one of the Mutimbuzi commune located in the south-west of the Mutimbuzi commune, in the south bordering Lake Tanganyika, in the west with the DRC, in the north-east with the Rukaramu zone and in the east Rukaramu. 

It is shaped like an island between the Rusizi 1 and 2 rivers, all of which flow into Lake Tanganyika, but this area is sometimes affected by flooding due to its proximity to Lake Tanganyika and the Rusizi River. The Gatumba area has nine hills which are: Mushasha I and II, Kinyinya I and II, Muyange I and II, Gaharawe, Warubondo and Vugizo.

The majority of the Gatumba population are farmers and fishermen, while others engage in petty trade in this locality, at the Bujumbura city market commonly known as "KWASIYONI" and COTEBU in Bujumbura, and others cross the Congolese border to sell fruit and other foodstuffs. 

But from the year 2021 until today, this population is exposed to the challenges of poverty linked to: 

1. The flooding of the Rusizi river and Lake Tanganyika, which lasted for almost two years, from April 2020 to August 2022. 

2. The closure of the Congolese border following the spread of covid-19.

The area is flat, sandwiched between the Rusizi River and Lake Tanganyika, making it impossible to channel stagnant water during the rainy season. As a result, there are many diseases linked to poor hygiene.

Apart from these floods, the water table is very close, which means that households cannot dig deep septic tanks on the MUSHASHA and KINYINYA hills. Latrines are always overflowing, often causing urinary tract infections.