By Yiep Joseph
The leadership of St. Stephen Episcopal Church in Munuki has named Central Equatoria State government in Church land grabbing.
According to a statement extended to the media, the church claimed that CES officials have started allocating church land to individuals.
“Under the guard of the National Security, we the Christian of the St. Stephen Church Munuki were shocked to see a team of engineers headed by the minister of house, land and public Utilities on March 20th to start opening roads and demolishing some church structure without prior notification to the Church” the statement indicated.
The document signed by Rev. Paul Samuel Paul, parish priest of St. Stephen Episcopal Church in Munuki, points to the minister of Land and Public Utility for offending the Church.
“When asked why he was acting in this manner, the Hon Miniter of and public utilities responded that it was the governor of CES who gave him the orders to do this” the priest stated.
Rev. Paul Samuel Paul, parish priest of St. Stephen Episcopal Church in Munuki claimed that the church has all the legal document from the government citing that it was a Suprise to see re-demarcation by the same government.
He said the church, established in 1965, was granted the land in 1987 by the then-Regional Ministry of Housing and Utilities. The plot, No. 1567 in Block B, covers 95,200 square meters.
He called on the state government to give the land back to the Church.
The priest said that on March 20, the state minister, Morbe, accompanied by National Security officers, began demolishing parts of the church premises without warning.
However, when contacted for comment, David Morbe Aquilino, CES minister of Housing, Land and Public Utilities said that the state government would officially respond to the allegation from the Church.
Recently, Central Equatoria state (CES) government issued a stern waring to land grabbers and urged the public to cease illegal acquisition of land.
Addressing Journalists on Friday, minister Morbe said that it had come to the knowledge of the authorities that some individuals “Land grabbers” continue to deceive the public.
The Minister narrated that land grabbers has been luring public to buy land under claim that the state government authorized them.
He revealed that land grabbing continues to be rampant in some payams of Juba County such as Mangalla payam, Luripayam, Rajaf payam, Lado payam.
The Minster informed the public to cease buying land from areas adding that the Ministry or CES has not authorized demarcation in those areas as claimed by the land grabbers.
“I would like to inform all the public as the Ministry to know exact what is taking place on the ground, because most of the allegation on the ground say that the Ministry of Housing in Central Equatoria state is part of the activities are now taking place on the ground, We would like to inform the public that the Ministry of housing or Central Equatoria is not part and Parcel of those activities which are now taking place in those areas” he explained