Yei County Holds Dialogue on Land Rights and Urban Planning

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – The authorities of Yei River County held a one day dialogue on 12 January 2026 to discuss land rights and town planning. County officials, traditional leaders, elders, and landowners attended the meeting to talk about land ownership, allocation, and urban development in Yei.

Hon. Emmanuel Taban Seme, the County Commissioner, welcomed the participants and said the dialogue was important for peace, unity, and development in Yei. He said 2026 is a year of development and that a social survey is needed to guide land allocation and planning.

The Commissioner said that residents who have lived in Yei for a long time, no matter their ethnic group, have the right to own land. He added that fair and inclusive land policies are important to prevent future disputes.

Hon. Seme also asked Boma Land Committees to work closely with Payam administrations to avoid misunderstandings and make land management transparent.

The Paramount Chief praised landowners for supporting the ongoing town demarcation, saying clear boundaries will help planning and bring meaningful development to Yei.

Hillary Lugala Godo said Yei belongs to its people and called for fair access to land through transparent demarcation. He noted plans to zone the town in the future and asked local authorities to fund the housing department so demarcation work can be done effectively.

Former Yei Town Payam Director, Araba Na Fox, said the dialogue was important to improve accountability in plot allocation. She praised elders for promoting fair land distribution and reducing corruption.

Able Sebit thanked the Commissioner for engaging landlords responsibly and suggested the county set aside land for public and community use.

Lowuya Morris, Executive Chief and Acting Land Chairperson, asked landlords to be professional and honest in dividing land, warning against corruption.

Elder Charles Lugala said that regular dialogue and social surveys are needed to prevent land conflicts. He called on the government to speed up demarcation across Yei River County to encourage development and attract investors.

The meeting ended with a call for ongoing cooperation between government bodies, traditional leaders, and communities to ensure fair land governance and support development in Yei River County.

Key Points from Yei County Land Dialogue