Lainya County MP Calls Out Neglect of National Road

(JUBA) – A member of parliament has called on the national government to urgently repair the Juba – Lainya – Yei – Kaya Road, one of South Sudan’s key transport routes, citing years of neglect that have left sections of the highway in poor condition.

Speaking in parliament, Dusman Joyce James Lesuk, MP for Lainya County, described the road as “bad and difficult” and demanded that the Minister of Roads and Bridges appear before parliament to explain the delays in maintenance.

The highway connects South Sudan’s capital, Juba, to Lainya, Yei, and the border town of Kaya, and serves as a vital link for trade, humanitarian access and the movement of people to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

MP Joyce highlighted that the section between mile 55 and mile 59 in Lainya County is particularly damaged.

“My concern is about the Juba – Lainya – Yei – Kaya Road. This road is in a very poor condition and we do not understand why, year after year, no one attends to it. If you travel between mile 55 and mile 59 in Lainya, you will see the dire state. We have raised this issue several times, but there has been no response,” she said.

She added that while the state ministry recognises the road as a national route, the national ministry has not taken any action.

“We see the Ministry of Roads and Bridges working on other routes, but this one is always left out. I want the Minister to appear before this House and explain why he has not visited the area to see the situation for himself,” MP Joyce said.

Before years of conflict and neglect, the Juba – Lainya – Yei – Kaya Road was a busy trade route transporting goods, farm produce, and fuel between Uganda and South Sudan, supporting the livelihoods of communities along the route.

Local residents and traders say the current state of the road slows transport, increases travel costs, and limits access to markets and essential services.

Juba – Lainya – Yei – Kaya Road Overview