By Scopas Bethuel
The Pojulu Cultural Festival concluded today after three days of vibrant cultural performances, exhibitions, traditional cuisine, and speeches by political and community leaders. The festival, held under the theme “Friendship Among Communities Can Unite South Sudanese,” drew participation from over 15 ethnic groups and has sparked national attention for its strong messages of unity and peace.
Lainya County Commissioner Robert Lasu John used the platform to call on armed holdout groups to return home, appealing to the shared identity and roots of those still in the bush.
“Some of those boys in the bush are our boys,” he said. “Let us talk to them to come home.”
His message echoes growing public sentiment in South Sudan for an end to violence and displacement caused by rebellion and insecurity.
Earlier in the festival, Juba County Commissioner Emmanuel Tete Ezbon made a similar appeal.
“Let there be peace in every area of Pojulu, Mukaya, Wonduruba, Lainya, Kupera,” he said. “Call those who are still out there to come in for peace, so they can join and celebrate the next Pojulu Cultural Festival with all of you here in Juba.”
Since taking office, Commissioner Lasu has prioritized security, education, and unity. While Lainya County has avoided major armed conflict under his leadership, challenges remain, particularly due to armed cattle keepers from neighboring Terekeka County and Bor.
In his closing remarks, Lasu also encouraged members of the Pojulu community living in Juba and displaced in camps to return to their ancestral lands and engage in agriculture.
“I urge all of you to come back home and farm,” he said. “When you do that, you’ll only need to come to Juba for salt and other things. As for maize and flour, you’ll have your own from the farm.” He call on all Pojulu to support community initiative like the Lainya, Birigo yumbe road that is under construction adding that Lainya Bereka and Lainya Mukaya will be next.
In a significant development, Lasu announced a scholarship program for university students from Lainya County, to be facilitated through Kuda University. The scholarships will be distributed among various payams, offering students greater access to higher education.
Education in Lainya remains a critical concern. The county faces a shortage of secondary schools, limited resources, and overcrowded classrooms—particularly affecting girls and displaced children. Officials hope the new scholarship initiative will help address some of these gaps and improve long-term educational outcomes.
The Pojulu Cultural Festival was jointly organized by the Pojulu community in Yei, Palorinya refugee settlement, and Bidi Bidi in Uganda’s Obongi and Yumbe districts, as well as diaspora groups in Kenya. According to organizers, the event aimed to strengthen Pojulu unity, preserve traditions, and foster peace among South Sudan’s diverse communities. The festival also featured performances by other ethnic groups and comedy shows, underscoring the country’s cultural richness and the power of unity in diversity.