Central Equatoria State’s Minister of Information and Communication/Patrick Nyarsuk James/ Addressing the Media On 7^th July 2026

By Awuou Michael

The Central Equatoria State Government has announced plans to introduce a digital land registration and management system to improve transparency, strengthen land administration, and curb land grabbing.

Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, the Central Equatoria State Minister of Information and Communication, Patrick Nyarsuk James, said the initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the State Ministry of Housing, Land and Public Utilities, county authorities, and technical experts.

“The Government of Central Equatoria State is committed to digitalizing land registration and management to enhance transparency, improve service delivery, and safeguard land ownership records,” Nyarsuk said.

He explained that the new system will integrate land application, registration, and ownership transfer into a centralized digital platform while creating a unified land map to ensure all allocations comply with approved land-use plans.

“Our technical teams, together with engineers from the national ministry, county authorities, and our partners, are developing a unified format and recommending the most appropriate software to support this system,” he said.

Nyarsuk added that the centralized database is expected to improve access to land records, and strengthen accountability, particularly in Juba County.

“The centralized system will make it easier to verify ownership records and regulate land claims and transfers, which will contribute significantly to reducing cases of land grabbing,” he said.

Responding to the concerns raised by journalists during the press briefing, Nyarsuk said the government is determined to complete the project within a short period.

“We intend to realize this digitalization within a very short period. This is an important reform that will strengthen land governance and improve public confidence in land administration,” he said.

The minister added that the government would issue two additional press statements later the same day to provide further updates on the initiative.

Land grabbing has remained a widespread issue in Juba, fueled by rapid urban expansion and weak regulatory oversight. Powerful individuals, unauthorized brokers, and local chiefs have been known to illegally demarcate and sell private, institutional, and community land.