By Philip Buda
Ministry of Information, Communications, Technology, and Postal Services (ICT & Postal Service) has announced plans for an aerial survey and base mapping initiative in Juba County and City, Central Equatoria State, next year.
As part of embracing the e-government and e-service program, the government emphasized that the project is not linked to land grabbing but is a vital step in refining urban planning and improving effective service delivery for residents.
Deputy National Minister of ICT and Postal Services, Jacob Maiju Korok, announced the initiative on Friday, 22, November 2024 during a sensitization workshop held in Juba for local authorities, preparing them for the forthcoming digital mapping initiative.
The sensitization workshop, a follow-up on an E-Service board meeting conducted earlier this month was meant to furnish the stakeholders with knowledge and skills needed for the initiative, crucial for urban planning where grassroots awareness and collaboration are paramount.
Deputy Minister Korok, in his keynote opening remarks, called on the local government authorities, including chiefs and legislators to support and cooperate with the national government in realizing the project at hand.
“This workshop is an opportunity for you to learn from experts, exchange ideas, and develop strategies for implementing advanced surveying and mapping solutions to support sustainable development in our communities,” he told participants.
The workshop was attended by many important local government officials including; Speaker of Juba County legislative Council, senior parliamentarians, chiefs from Lado, Mangalla and other payams of Juba County.
Mr. Korok emphasized the project’s potential to address critical issues such as land grabbing, disputes, and crimes.
“We highly encourage the executive directors of the payams of Juba County and their respective councillors, and concerned officials from Juba City Council to inform the communities that this survey mapping has nothing to do with land grabbing. It is purely for the production of accurate maps and references for the different entities on the ground/land” Korok assured.
He explained that the project will help the citizens of Juba City and County receive mails and parcels directly delivered to their residences/homes or places of business.
Additionally, the system will enable concerned government institutions to have accurate information on the plots and land at the tip of their fingers.
He hinted that local government officials will no longer need to send staff to deliver invoices for rental value or land tax. They will generate the invoices and deliver them through postal services effectively and transparently.
Speaker of Juba County Legislative Council, Daniel Jada Marcello expressed strong support for the project, commending the approach of the Ministry of ICT and Postal Services for engaging and bringing the local authorities on board.
He believes the initiative will help combat future challenges for the state government regarding urban development and land management with unforeseen worries.
The Council of Ministers tasked the Ministry of ICT and Postal Services with the implementation of the e-Government Services and an e-Government Board of Directors was constituted and chaired by the Deputy Minister, Jacok Maiju Korok to midwife the transition from analogue to digital.
Korok said the e-Government Board has partnered with the private sector to kick-start the implementation of the e-government services adding that some significant progress has been achieved.
According to him, E-commerce will be one of the big beneficiaries of the geographic addressing system.
With this digital mapping project, the gov’t intends to create accurate maps that will help in establishing the Geographic Addressing System for the country.
Meanwhile, Juba City and Juba County have been selected as piloting areas due to their importance, being the host City and State for the Government of the Republic of South Sudan.