In a peaceful election held at Nyakuron Cultural Centre on Saturday, Dada Isaac Lemi emerged as the new leader of the Kakuwa Community in South Sudan, unseating longtime politician Jacob Aligo Lo-Ladu.
Lemi, who serves as Director of Administration and Logistics at the National Communication Authority, won with 191 votes against Aligo’s 102.
Aligo, a seasoned MP and Central Equatoria’s Minister of Peace Building, had been widely seen as the frontrunner, given his political stature and influence.
Community members told SZN that Lemi’s campaign, driven by bold ideas and a clear vision, swayed delegates to rally behind his team
“Our opponent invested money to convince the voters, but we won because we invested in ideas,” said Charles Mogga, one of the group’s campaign leaders.
Lemi, who hails from Lainya County and has a background as a teacher, entrepreneur, and youth leader, holds degrees in Economic Development, Business Administration, and Development Studies.
His victory marks a generational shift in the Kakwa leadership, with many describing it as a win for accountability and fresh ideas.
Isaac Lemi was elected under the banner of Team Kakwa Power (TKP).
He is joined by Mr. Sebit Nicolas, elected as Secretary General, and Ms. Joyce Yobu, elected as Finance Secretary.
Together, the trio—Mr. Isaac Lemi from Lainya County (eastern Kakuwa), Mr. Sebit Nicolas from Yei County, and Ms. Joyce Yobu from Morobo—forms a leadership team representing all corners of the Greater Yei region.
The Kakuwa people, who inhabit the tri-border area of Uganda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, boast a rich cultural heritage. Lemi will now serve a four-year term leading the community until 2029.
Though South Sudan has yet to hold national elections since independence in 2011, community leadership contests such as this one have often been conducted peacefully, offering rare examples of grassroots democracy in action.
