The Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Friday again dismissed reports circulating on social media that it had seized land belonging to Christ Church Nakasongola, where it plans to build a 5-star hotel.
Assembly spokesperson Oliver Mori said the leadership of parliament was shocked to see a video spreading false claims about the Speaker.
“Our attention has been drawn to a misleading video circulating on social media regarding Parliament Plot No. 02/Block 1st Classic Parliament Quarter. Parliament categorically refutes the claims made in the video and urges the public to disregard them as baseless and misleading,” Mori said.
He said that a TikTok user, who calls himself Onen Ojok, publicly accused Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba and Central Equatoria State SPLM Secretary Anna Kaku of being behind the alleged land grab, which Ojok claimed belongs to parliament, citing documents in their possession.
This is not the first time the church and parliament have clashed over the land. In July 2023, four people were injured in a shooting incident over the same church property after parliament carried out a demolition.
In the same year, the leadership of Christ Church Nakasongola accused the TNLA Speaker of using security agencies to seize the church’s land.
Mori, however, asserted that the land in question was allocated in 1972 by Greater Equatoria leaders to host the regional government led by Moulana Abel Alier Kuac. He said the land temporarily hosted IDPs and refugees after the Addis Ababa Agreement.
Mori maintained that those who settled in the area, including the late Pastor Jambo of Nakasongola, were compensated in cash and kind to build their church in Lokwilili.
“This process was overseen by then-Deputy Speaker Daniel Awet Akon in 2011. The process of reclaiming the land dates back to the time of former Speaker Anthony Lino Makana, who wanted to build a new parliament,” he said.
Mori explained that parliament is the legal owner of the land and has already developed a master plan for the construction of a modern chamber, about seven floors high.
“The allegations against Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba are entirely fabricated and should be dismissed. We call on the public to rely on verified facts and not be misled by misinformation,” he concluded.
However, the church denied receiving any compensation from the government.
Christ Church Nakasongola representative David Jambo said the church’s position is to push for the return of the land.
“Our stance is that whoever demolished the church should rebuild it on its original site,” he said.