By Yiep Joseph
The newly appointed Caretaker Commissioner of Juba County, Kalisto Lado Faustino, has pledged to use the county’s natural resources to finance development, promising new projects across all Payams and Bomas.
Lado committed as he outlined his priorities for the county, saying his administration would focus on bringing visible development to communities across Juba County.
“I came as the commissioner to do major development in Juba County. From today, you will see new development projects in all Payams and Bomas,” Lado said.
The Commissioner said Juba County is endowed with natural resources that could generate revenue to support development if properly utilised.
He specifically mentioned gold deposits in Gorom, Bongu, Ganji, Lobonok, and Maraam, as well as sand and other resources found in different parts of the county.
“The gold and other resources in Juba County will be used to develop Juba County,” he added.
Lado’s announcement puts natural-resource revenue at the centre of his administration’s development plans, with gold mining appearing to be one of the potential sources of funding for projects in the county.
Juba County, which includes areas surrounding the national capital, has experienced rapid population growth and increasing demand for public services and infrastructure.
Residents in many areas continue to face challenges related to roads, drainage, waste management, water access, and other basic services.
The Commissioner did not, however, provide details of the development projects that his administration intends to undertake or indicate which sectors will receive priority.
He also did not explain how the county government plans to collect, manage, and allocate revenue generated from gold mining and other natural resources.
Lado’s pledge nevertheless sets an ambitious tone for his tenure as caretaker commissioner. His statement that development projects will be seen across all Payams and Bomas creates expectations among residents who are looking for improvements in their communities.
The commissioner will now face the challenge of translating the promise into concrete projects and showing how those projects will be funded and implemented.
For residents, the focus is likely to shift from the promise of development to the results on the ground. Roads, public facilities, water, and other essential services could provide visible indicators of whether the county’s natural resources are generating tangible benefits.
As the new administration begins its work, transparency over the management of gold and other resource revenues is also likely to remain a key issue.
For now, Lado has made the commitment: Juba County’s natural resources, including its gold, should help finance the county’s development.
The next test will be how that revenue is managed and whether the promised development reaches communities across the county.