Construction has officially commenced on a 59 kilometre feeder road connecting the villages of Loka, Limuro, Koyoki, and Birigo in Lainya County, Central Equatoria State. The project, initiated last week, is a community driven initiative in response to government inaction over the years.
The road is expected to enhance access to markets, schools, hospitals, and bolster security in the region. Funding for the project is being provided by residents of Wuji Payam, who took matters into their own hands after the county government ignored repeated requests for a road network since 2020.
Oliver Batali, a community leader in Wuji Payam, highlighted that the area has lacked a functional road network since before the Anya-Nya war of 1955. He mentioned that the community has faced challenges for decades, including attacks by various armed groups due to its isolation.
To raise the necessary funds, the community exploited local resources, particularly by selling Afagilia Africana trees to timber companies. The proceeds were used to hire road grading machines and cover fuel expenses. However, progress has been hindered by financial constraints, causing work on the road to halt after commencing in March 2025.
A tragic incident where a woman lost her two children due to the lack of access to a hospital in Lainya or Yei prompted the community to take action. Batali explained that completing the road will improve transportation of goods and services, boost agricultural trade, decrease insecurity, and nurture economic development in the county.
Local residents, like Malish Lukadi from Wuji village, expressed optimism about the road construction project. Lukadi emphasized the necessity of the road, citing improved access to essential services, such as schools and markets, once the project is completed.
Source: Access Radio South Sudan
