By Victor Mangu
Western Equatoria State Legislative Assembly inaugurated the completion of renovations to the August House, the state’s parliamentary building.
It was renovated by the United Nation Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Quick Impact project, marking the first major update to the building since its construction in 1978.
Speaking at the event, the Governor of Western Equatoria State, Lt. Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba, expressed his gratitude to UNMISS for their support in the state.
He noted that the renovated August House will now be able to accommodate 100 lawmakers, up from the previous capacity of 45.
Governor Futuyo urged the lawmakers to work together for peace and development in the state.
He called for unity, welcoming the new deputy governor and asking all members to “join hands together and work for development and embrace peace.”
The Rt. Hon. Speaker, Wakila Abdu Charles Ngamunde, also spoke at the event.
She thanked UNMISS and COPE, the project’s partners, for overseeing the renovations. Ngamunde noted that since the August House’s original construction in 1978, it has only been able to host 45 lawmakers, but the upgrades will now allow it to house over 100 members of the State Legislative Assembly.
The Speaker continued by calling for the installation of electricity in the building, to better enable the lawmakers to carry out their work.
She expressed that the members of the Assembly are eager to return to their normal legislative sessions, as representatives of their communities.