By Philip Basa

The administration of St Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Munuki, has strongly condemned the Central Equatoria government for demarcating the church’s land.

This came after the Minister of Land and Housing, David Morbe, launched the opening of the road within Hai Jerzera Munuki last month, where, in some parts, church premises were demolished.

Rev. Paul Samuel Paul stated that this action against the church premises is “unlawful” and called on the state government to stop it.

According to the Rev., the church was established in 1965. In 1987, it was registered by the Regional Ministry of Housing and Utilities. The church, he said, has a land lease on plot no 1567 Block B, covering an area of 9520 square meters.   

This land was registered in the judiciary in March 1987, he added.

The cleric expressed dismay at the ongoing action in the church premises by the Central Equatoria state government.

“We have taken this issue of the land to the high court in Juba, and the court ruling was in favour of the church four times. Therefore, we should respect the law because no one is above the law. As a church, we are following the right procedure of acquiring the land for the church.”

“On March 20, 2025, St. Stephen Parish Church Munuki was surprised to see teams of engineers headed by the Minister of Housing and Land, David Morbe, and the executive director of Munuki Payam, Timothy Wani, started opening the roads and demolishing church premises structure without informing the church,” he stated.

“When the church was trying to ask why this is happening. Hon Minister of Land and Housing stated he was acting on the order of Governor Augustino Jadalla Wani, who had given him the order to do so.”

In these critical matters, the leadership of the church had approached the Central Equatoria governor with all the legal documents.

However, the pastor said, despite visiting the site, the governor has since remained silent over the matter.

The administration of the Church has now requested those living on the church land to immediately vacate the area as ruled by the court.

Edward Yuggu, a member of St Stephen Parish, said it’s now over 40 years since they have been operating in the church.

He said a few individuals who have just acquired the documents of the land in 2023 are now claiming ownership of the land.

“What we need is for the church members in Central Equatoria State government should stop demarcating Church land and call for those who occupied the land illegally to evict.”