By Emelda Siama
Residents of both informal and formal settlements in Lokwilili, Juba County, Central Equatoria State, on Wednesday have raised serious concerns over ongoing clashes caused by informal groups demolishing houses and constructing roads within the residential area.
The issue came to the forefront during a meeting held at the state secretariat, where the governor of Central Equatoria, Rabi Mujung, convened a discussion with the undersecretary of the national Ministry of Housing, the State Minister of Public Utilities, residents of Lokwilili, and representatives of high-level settlement communities in Juba County.
The Governor of Central Equatoria, Rabi Mujung, chairing the meeting (Credit: Emelda Siama, King Media)
Following the meeting, the Minister of Housing and Public Utilities, David Morbe Albino, addressed the media. He explained that some groups have been independently demolishing houses and opening roads, actions which are not authorized by the Ministry of Housing and Public Utilities.
He stated, “The meeting has resolved that the documents that was given to those groups in order to go and open a road in Lukulili, it has to stop the work immediately from today that the committee, those who are making activities on the ground, must stop carrying such kind of activities. And the government and the national minister of housing is going to issue an order and all the sectors, the military apparatus, anyone who is concerned to take serious measures in order not to allow such kind of activities to continue within the territory or within the areas of Lukulili.”
Additionally, Undersecretary of the National Land, Housing, and Urban Development, Louis Kuot, highlighted that residents are losing their plots through illegal practices by informal settlers. He noted that official documents had been issued to facilitate water tanker access to the area, but those directives were ignored, and the groups proceeded beyond legal boundaries.
“The resolution is saying that with the effect from now the government, the National Committee, the high-level committee resolve to revoke the letter mandating the people on ground to stop immediately opening of the roads and also for the state government to initiate with also immediate effect once they are prepared for showing and opening the right maps according to the cadasters and the survey maps.” Kuot emphasized.
The authorities are now taking steps to restore order and protect residents’ rights within Lokwilili, amid ongoing concerns over illegal settlements and unauthorized developments.