Yei Commissioner Launches Departments Tour

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – The Commissioner of Yei River County, Samuel Henry Malimbo, has begun an official tour of county departments, starting with the Department of Housing, Land and Physical Infrastructure, in a move aimed at strengthening service delivery and accelerating development.

During his visit to the department in Yei Town, Commissioner Malimbo was warmly received by the Director of Physical Infrastructure, Richard Lugala, who praised the initiative as a clear sign of the county leadership’s commitment to improving government performance and supporting development efforts.

At the meeting, department officials presented a comprehensive briefing outlining their structure, achievements, ongoing projects, and key challenges. The department plays a central role in land administration, urban planning, housing, road and bridge construction, surveying and overall infrastructure development across the county.

County Engineer Jura Festo Nehemiah highlighted that while the department has skilled personnel capable of delivering infrastructure projects, operations are significantly hindered by transport shortages, limiting fieldwork and monitoring activities. He also called for the recruitment of more professional staff and the provision of modern ICT equipment to enhance efficiency in planning, data management and service delivery.

Addressing the team, Commissioner Malimbo praised their efforts while acknowledging the challenges they face. He stressed the need for stronger coordination, adherence to the chain of command and improved internal management systems to enhance accountability and efficiency.

In a positive development, the Commissioner announced an upcoming two-month training program for survey officers in Juba, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The training is expected to equip staff with modern surveying skills to improve land management and infrastructure planning.

The department also showcased its achievements, including revenue generation from land leases, building permits, and survey services, as well as ongoing physical planning in residential areas and contributions to community road and bridge projects.

Despite these successes, officials cited ongoing obstacles such as inadequate transport, limited funding, outdated equipment, insufficient training opportunities and unreliable power supply, all of which continue to affect performance.

In his closing remarks, Commissioner Malimbo reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to addressing these challenges and supporting the department’s work. He urged staff to remain dedicated and collaborative in driving the development agenda forward.

The visit concluded with renewed commitment from both leadership and staff to strengthen cooperation, improve public services, and accelerate infrastructure development for the benefit of communities across Yei River County.