The Rev. Paul Samuel Paul, parish priest of St. Stephen Episcopal Church in Munuki, accused Central Equatoria State on Sunday of demolishing church buildings in an attempt to seize the land.
Speaking to congregants, Paul condemned the state government’s recent demarcation of the property as unlawful. 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.
On March 20, state Land Minister David Morbe Aquilino, accompanied by National Security officers, began demolishing parts of the church premises without warning, Paul said.
“Under the guard of the National Security, we were shocked to see engineers led by the minister opening roads and tearing down structures,” Paul said. “When questioned, the minister said the governor ordered it.”
Efforts to seek intervention from the governor were unsuccessful, Paul added.
“The church presented all legal documents, and the governor even visited the site, but he has remained silent,” Paul said. “This shows the state government’s disregard for the church.”
The parish has won four rulings from South Sudan’s Supreme Court affirming its ownership, Paul said.
“No executive authority overrides the Supreme Court,” he said. “We demand the immediate removal of illegal occupants and compensation for damages.”
The church also called on the Episcopal Diocese of Juba to urge South Sudan’s national government to hold those responsible for the illegal demarcation accountable.
Central Equatoria State Land Minister David Morbe Aquilino, when contacted by Radio Tamazuj for comment, said the government would comment on the matter at a later date.