The city of Bujumbura can be divided into 3 major regions: the North (to the North of the NTAHANGWA River), the South (South of the MUHA River) and the Centre (between the MUHA and the NTAHANGWA). The 13 communes that compose the city are spread amongst these three regions. Each commune is divided into neighbourhoods.

The communes and their neighbourhoods are as follows:

Buterere (North): Buterere I, Buterere II A, Buterere II B, Kabusa, Kiyange, Muramvya, Mubone, Mugaruro, and Kiyange.

Buyenzi (Centre): Neighbourdhoods I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII

Bwiza (Centre): Bwiza I, Bwiza II, Bwiza III, Bwiza IV, Jabe I, Jabe II, and Jabe III

Cibitoke (North): Neighbourhoods I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and VII

Gihosha (North): Gasenyi, Gihosha, Gikungu, Kigobe, Mutanga-Nord, Muyaga, Nyabagere, Taba, and Winterekwa

Kanyosha (South): Gisyo-Nyabaranda, Musama, Nyabugete, Kizingwe-Bihara, Nkega-Busoro, Ruziba, and Kajiji

Kamenge (North): Gikizi, Gituro, Heha, Kavumu, Mirango I, Mirango II, Songa, Teza, and Twinyoni

Kinama (North): Bubanza, Buhinyuza, Bukirasazi I, Bukirasazi II, Bururi, Carama, Gitega, Kanga, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Ruyigi, and SOCARTI.

Kinindo (South): Kibenga, Kinanira I, Kinanira II, Kinanira III, Kinanira IV, Kinindo, and Zeimet-OUA

Musaga (South): Gasekebuye-Gikoto, Gitaramuka, Kamesa, Kinanira I, and Kinanira II

Ngagara (North): Neighbourhoods I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, and Industriel

Nyakabiga (Center): Kigwati, Nyakabiga I, Nyakabiga II, and Nyakabiga III

Rohero (Center): City-center, Rohero I-Gatoke, Kabondo, Mutanga-Sud-Sororezo, Q. Asiatique, Q. I.N.S.S, Rohero II, and Kiriri-Vugizo

The city of Bujumbura is governed by a City Council overseen by a Mayor appointed by the President of the Republic. Each commune is governed by an elected community council overseen by an elected community administrator, and each neighbourhood is overseen by an elected neighbourhood council and neighbourhood chief.