15km Road Project Begins in Lakes State Capital

(RUMBEK COUNTY) – The municipal council of Rumbek in Lakes State has begun rehabilitating key feeder roads within the town, responding to years of complaints from residents and traders about the poor state of infrastructure, particularly during the rainy season. The project officially commenced on Saturday and is being implemented by Africa Resource Construction (ARC) with logistical support and fuel supplied by the local government.

The initiative has been welcomed by residents who say persistent flooding has made daily life and business activities difficult. According to Mr Benjamin Makuei, a resident of Rumbek, the poor road conditions have severely disrupted movement, especially within the town’s market area.

“This is a wonderful idea because the town has been flooded for so long, making it hard to move from shop to shop,” he said. “We appreciate the municipal council and the state government for this work.”

Local traders have also voiced support for the project, highlighting how critical road access is for commerce. Ms Amira, a businesswoman operating in the Rumbek market, said the improved road network would help transportation and make it easier for vehicles and motorcycles to move around.

“When the roads are fixed, it helps businesses and allows vehicles and motorcycles to move safely,” she said. She also urged the authorities to extend repairs to residential areas including Malakia, Malualkodi and Akuac, where narrow and damaged roads pose safety risks to pedestrians and motorists.

The Mayor of Rumbek Town, Mr Akol Paul Manyang, said the agreement with ARC was reached through negotiation. While no direct payment is being made to the construction company, the municipality is offering support in the form of fuel and other incentives. “We did not pay them, but we are offering motivation for the engineers and staff,” Mayor Manyang stated.

The first phase of the project covers approximately 15 kilometres of road, including strategic routes such as the stretch from Rumbek Airport to the State Assembly and parts of the Juba to Wau highway. These roads are critical for movement of people and goods, both within Rumbek and beyond.

Civil society leaders have welcomed the initiative but called for broader coverage and stronger oversight. Mr Daniel Laat Kon, a local civil society activist, said the project was a positive development but urged that rehabilitation efforts should be extended beyond the market area.

“This is commendable, but the rehabilitation should extend beyond the market to residential areas,” he said. He also called on ARC to ensure that the work meets quality standards and is closely supervised to avoid substandard outcomes.