By James Innocent
The Commissioner of Yei River County, Hon. Samuel Henry Malimbo, paid an official visit to the Department of Housing, Land, and Physical Infrastructure in Yei Town as part of his ongoing engagement with county institutions aimed at strengthening service delivery and development across the county.
Upon arrival, the commissioner was warmly received by the director of physical infrastructure, Richard Lugala, who welcomed the county leadership and appreciated the visit, describing it as a demonstration of commitment to improving the performance of government departments and supporting development initiatives in Yei River County.
During the meeting, county officials presented a detailed briefing on the department’s structure, achievements, ongoing projects, challenges, and plans.
The department highlighted its role in land administration, physical planning, housing, roads and bridges, survey activities, and infrastructure development within the county.
Speaking during the meeting, Jura Festo Nehemiah, the County Engineer, explained that the department is staffed with personnel possessing different professional skills and expertise necessary for implementing infrastructure projects.
However, he noted that transport limitations continue to affect field operations and monitoring activities.
He further appealed for the recruitment of additional professional staff to strengthen the department’s capacity and called for the provision of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to improve efficiency in data management, planning, and service delivery.
The Executive Director of Yei River County, Hillary John Konga, commended the staff of the Housing and Physical Infrastructure Department for their commitment to duty.
He noted that the department has maintained close cooperation with county authorities to ensure the successful implementation of development projects throughout Yei River County.
He emphasised that the department has been instrumental in supporting key infrastructure initiatives, particularly the construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridges, which are vital for improving transportation and economic activities within the county.
The Executive Director urged the staff to continue working closely with local government authorities and maintain teamwork and professionalism in the execution of their responsibilities.
Addressing the staff, Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo praised the efforts of the department and acknowledged the challenges affecting its operations.
He called upon all officials and employees to strengthen cooperation with county leadership and to respect the established chain of command in order to promote accountability, coordination, and effective service delivery.
The commissioner further directed the department to improve internal organisation and management systems to eliminate confusion and ensure that staff work efficiently towards achieving the department’s objectives.
As part of efforts to enhance professional capacity, Hon. Malimbo announced that a two-month training program for survey officers will soon commence in Juba with support from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
He said the training will equip officers with modern surveying skills and technical knowledge needed to improve land management and infrastructure planning in Yei River County.
The visit also provided an opportunity for the department to present its achievements, including revenue generation through land leases, building permits, survey services, and verification and confirmation fees, as well as ongoing physical planning activities in several residential areas of Yei Town.
Officials also highlighted the department’s contributions to community projects, road-opening initiatives, and bridge development across the county.
Despite these accomplishments, the department reported challenges such as inadequate transport, limited operational funding, outdated office equipment, insufficient training opportunities, and unreliable power supply, all of which affect service delivery.
In his closing remarks, the commissioner reassured the department of the county government’s commitment to supporting its activities and addressing key challenges.
He encouraged staff to remain dedicated to their duties and work collectively toward the development of Yei River County.
The visit concluded with renewed commitments from both county leadership and departmental staff to strengthen cooperation, improve public service delivery, and accelerate infrastructure development for the benefit of communities across Yei River County.