Members of the Central Equatoria State Parliamentary Caucus in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States have called for swift measures to address land grabbing and interference in state revenue collection by the South Sudan Revenue Authority.
In a statement seen by The Standard Zone News, the lawmakers made their appeal on Thursday during a meeting with Central Equatoria State Governor Lt. Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel at the State Secretariat, where they discussed pressing challenges facing the state.
According to the Governor’s office, the MPs raised concerns over insecurity in parts of the state—particularly in Yei and Morobo counties—as well as recent incursions by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) into Kajo-Keji County.
“Other issues tabled included ineffective service delivery and the persistent malpractice of land grabbing,” the statement noted.
The caucus urged immediate action to curb rampant land grabbing in Juba, stop the National Revenue Authority from interfering in state revenue collection, and foster a peaceful environment that would encourage the return of refugees and internally displaced persons to insecurity-affected areas.
Speaking on behalf of the MPs, Festo Lemi described the meeting as “fruitful,” saying the legislators had pledged to work closely with the state government to improve service delivery and address citizens’ concerns.
“We discussed unity among political parties in the state, the challenge of land grabbing, delayed salaries, and the rising cost of living. We have asked the Governor to involve us in tackling any issue affecting the state,” Lemi said.
In his response, Governor Mujung emphasized the importance of strong cooperation between state lawmakers and the government. He also outlined his administration’s strategic priorities, which include promoting peace, security, and unity across the state.
