National, News

Morobo Commissioner targets reviving Kaya town

By Bosco Bush

 

Kaya town, a key entry point on the South Sudan-Uganda border and once a busy commercial hub, has been destroyed during the peak of the 2016 war. The conflict displaced many residents, forcing them to seek refuge in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In an effort to restore normalcy, the newly appointed Morobo County Commissioner, Hon. Charles Data Bullen, has identified several critical challenges that must be addressed to improve the socioeconomic conditions in Kaya.

The areas to tackle include; demarcation and appropriation of plots around the residential areas for the returning population and Control of livestock (cattle) roaming within the town.

He also mentioned the enforcement of orders to ensure usage and adequate circulation of the country’s currency, South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) other Ugandan Shillings, which is currently predominant in Kaya.

In an exclusive interview, Commissioner Data stated that Kaya town has not fully returned to normalcy, expressing his commitment to overcoming the challenges and revitalizing the local economy.

“Kaya is not operating and we have a big challenge in Kaya. We have people who are raring cattle in the town and when the farmers wanted to cultivate, they find a lot of obstacles,” he said.

“The goats eat all the crops and we went there to settle this issue, and I think it may improve within the time because we’ve passed a resolution,” the commissioner added.

He describes the issue of foreign currency usage in Kaya as a “risky issue” noting that a local order has been issued banning its usage as the medium of exchange.

“We have given a local order that whoever refuses our South Sudanese money should face the law. If you’re going to buy things in the market, you’re going to use our local currency (pounds). We are going to ban this use of Ugandan Shillings within our territory,” said Data.

The Commissioner urges the national government to inject more SSP to the only bank operating in the area, Nile Commercial Bank so as to counter the circulation of the Ugandan Shillings.

He added that, preparations are underway to reopen Kaya Market to enable people crossing from DR Congo to sale their produce at Kaya other than transiting to Uganda.

“We have surveyed the market, the area is free and we just need some clearance of grass and announcement then people will be coming to start the market.”

“Because people are passing from Congo via us to Uganda through Kaya as transit with vegetables, tomatoes, all these things which are supposed to be sold in Kaya,” he added.

Kaya town is located in Kimba Payam, Morobo County, Central Equatoria State, in extreme southwestern South Sudan.

On October 6, 2017, Uganda pledged to supply power to two South Sudanese border towns as part of the Eastern Africa Power Pool agreement.

The agreement calls on all member states to connect electricity to each other.

Uganda’s energy minister Simon D’Ujanga said “400 kilo-volts of power will be supplied to the towns of Kaya and Nimule to boost socio-economic activities in the border areas.”

 

 

 

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