Individuals in Yei River County who have been affected by the clearance of the Juba-Yei-Kaya Highway are demanding compensation as promised by the government in 2022.
Since 2022, when the clearance exercise commenced on the road that measures 60 meters in width, houses, farms, and farmed forests, among other properties, were destroyed, without being recompensed by the national government, as promised.
Speaking to this publication on Sunday, James Badi, a resident of Yei Town, said the affected people and their destroyed properties were registered for compensation, but that they have not received any money to date.
“When they were clearing the road, we were told that we should write our names down together with what we had lost as a result of the clearance so that we get compensated. However, up to now, there is nothing that has been done,” he lamented. “Secondly, we also have trees that have been destroyed, and they said we would be given trees to plant, but it did not happen. There are graves that they also registered, and their traditional rituals have not been done.”
“Since they are restarting the road project, let them come and meet us and tell us something about the compensation we are to be given,” Badi added.
Moses Eluzai, another victim, said his shop and house were destroyed and that he was not compensated.
“My house and shop were demolished, and they told us to wait, and till now, there is no feedback. Life has not been easy for my family since the shop was helping a lot,” he stated. “At least let them speed up the compensation process or talk to us, but not to leave us in the dark.”
Meanwhile, Yei Episcopal Bishop Levi Marandulu called on the government to keep the promises it made to the victims to build trust.
“It is very unfortunate that our government does not keep to its words and promises. During the clearance, it was made very clear that when the big trees, houses of the people were destroyed, the records were even taken with a promise that they would be compensated,” he said. “It is very unfortunate that up to today nothing has been done, and the reasons are not made clear to the public. I call upon the government to always keep to its word and promises because it will build trust. Otherwise, people will lose trust in the government.
Efforts to reach the national minister of roads and bridges were unsuccessful.