St. Stephen’s Parish Church Denounces Illegal Land Demarcation by State Officials
By Denilson Deneki
St. Stephen’s Parish Church in Munuki, part of the Episcopal Diocese of Juba, has issued a strong condemnation of the recent illegal demarcation of its land by officials from the Central Equatoria State (CES) government.
In a press statement released on April 20, the church accused the CES Ministry of Housing, Land, and Public Utilities of forcibly allocating church land to private individuals without proper notice or consultation with church leadership. This incident reportedly occurred on March 22, 2025, despite a standing Supreme Court ruling affirming the church’s rightful ownership of the land.
According to Rev. Paul Samuel, the Parish Priest of St. Stephen’s Parish Church, the disputed land has long been recognized as church property. The parish leadership has previously rejected attempts by individuals to acquire the land through deceitful means, citing legal documentation and court rulings in their favor.
“The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the church, and therefore it is illegal for any government body or official to act against the decision of the highest court in the land,” said Rev. Paul.
The church is demanding the immediate eviction of all individuals who have unlawfully occupied its land and is seeking compensation for any damages incurred. Additionally, the administration has called on the Episcopal Diocese of Juba and the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to hold all responsible parties accountable for their actions.
In their closing statement, the church urged authorities to prevent similar occurrences in the future, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law and respecting religious institutions.
