South Sudan’s Otuho urge newly appointed minister to respect landownership

To: Martin Okeruk,
Minister of Housing, Land and Public Utility,
GOSS

Dear Your Excellency, Martin Okeruk,

We, members of Otuho-Speaking Community in North America (NACO) are very delighted on hearing your appointment as minister of Housing, Land and Public Utility. We congratulate you on a well deserved appointment. Your appointment to high position in the government of South Sudan is over due.

We acknowledge that you possess all the qualifications and experience to lead this ministry entrusted to you. We, the Otuho-Speaking Community in North America in particular and the people of South Sudan in general will count on you. The challenges you will be facing in the ministry is monumental.

Of late, there have been tensions, with respect to the land issue, especially in and around Juba. Among your first priority will be to resolve those pressing issues. We suggest that you do the following as a priority:

– Draft legislation for land usage.
– Strengthen the land commission by having commissioners who are competent judges.
– Stop the so-called “land grabbing” and those “grabbed” lands must be returned to their rightful legal owners.
– Create a real dialogue with the communities, states authorities, and the GOSS on the utilization of land.

By accomplishing these things, you will not only create a legacy for the ministry but resolve some of the most pressing issues, which have potentials to disintegrate the unity of South Sudan. We wish you good luck and hope you all the best in accomplishing you duties.

NACO is a community base non-for-profit organization operating out of North America. NACO is dedicated in promotion of equality, civility, caring, responsibility, accountability, respect as well as development of Torit County. For More information, visit www.otuhogroup.org or contact [email protected]

Yours Sincerely,

Pierre Odongi Atilio
President, NACO