A long-standing land dispute has resurfaced between the government and church leaders in Munuki, igniting concerns over land ownership, development, and religious rights.
The controversy came to light after Rev. Paul Samuel Paul of St. Stephen Parish Church accused officials of forcibly entering church property under national security escort, demolishing structures without prior warning.
In response, David Morbe Aquilino, Central Equatoria State Minister of Housing, Land, and Public Utilities, pushed back against the allegations, clarifying that the disputed Gezira land has been a point of contention for nearly four decades.
According to the minister, the government intervened following requests from residents seeking land demarcation and allocation to curb illegal settlements.
“Our responsibility as a government is to ensure proper land management and service delivery,” Morbe stated. “We are working to regulate settlement and provide order, not seize land from the Church.”
The minister reaffirmed that there was no hostility toward religious institutions, assuring congregants that the CES government is not involved in land-grabbing schemes.
To reinforce the commitment to religious infrastructure, Morbe announced that eight plots had already been allocated to St. Stephen Church, allowing it to expand its community services.
“We recognize the importance of churches and schools in our communities. People should not have to live in areas without these essential institutions,” he explained.
Despite these assurances, Rev. Paul remained defiant, stating that the government’s actions on March 20, including road construction and the demolition of church property under military protection, were a blatant disregard for religious autonomy and property rights.
Land disputes are deeply embedded in South Sudan’s governance challenges, particularly in Juba, where unregulated settlement expansion has led to frequent conflicts.
While the National Land Policy is hailed as a potential solution, it remains unapproved by lawmakers, leaving uncertainty about land ownership across the country.
The Land Act, still under review in parliament, offers hope, yet until both policies are formally enacted, land battles like that of St. Stephen Parish Church are likely to persist.
