The local authorities in Juba County’s Ladu Payam in Central Equatoria State have raised concerns over the incessant and ever-increasing land grabbing in the Luru Lubori area even after the intervention of the county commissioner.
Earlier this month, the Kuburi Habuba Police Station Court charged 35 land grabbers apprehended in Molubur village of Lado Payam by Juba County Commissioner Charles Joseph Wani. The convicts were fined between SSP 150,000 and 250,000 or two months in prison for illegally grabbing land. According to the court, they can be released after paying the fine.
However, speaking to a local radio station in Juba earlier on Monday, Charles Ladu, the chief of Lado East Boma in Lado Payam, revealed that despite the conviction of some land grabbers, others are still carrying on the vice with impunity at night.
“These people (land grabbers) are still there in the area called Luru lobori. They are so many, especially in Molubur, the place they were arrested last time,” he said. “They come at night and work and disappear in the morning. So, last night they came and they were building.”
The chief further accused some government officials of being involved in land grabbing in Lado Payam.
“The government is not doing anything about this situation because it is the government doing this. Those involved in these activities have guns and it is the government that handles guns” he charged. “It is the government doing these things because the army represents the government and anyone putting on the army uniform and has a gun is a soldier of the government.”
“My message is that let the government look at this issue and support the local people because land grabbers are now given freedom,” Chief Ladu added.
He said the local inhabitants use their land for cultivation and are at a loss of what to do this farming season.
“We all belong to the government. The main issue is that they are not grabbing the land for cultivation. What the farmers will do now?” the chief lamented. “If there is a way, let the government open places in Juba so that our Bari farmers go to Juba.”
For his part, Edward Dian Tongo, the Member of Parliament representing Ladu Payam in Central Equatoria State Parliament, called for the eviction of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who allegedly possess weapons.
“We do not know where these IDPs are coming from. Even the state government has no information. As the community, we do not have any information,” he said. “Some of these people are brought in cars and some of them are not IDPs but land grabbers because they have guns.”
The lawmaker further urged the state Ministry of Lands, Housing and Public Utilities to give Molubur third-class residential area to the rightful owners who bought plots there between 2009 and 2010.