Juba City Council Mayor Christopher Swaka speaks during the launch of the road rehabilitation exercise in Hai Dar el Salaam. [Photo: Courtesy]JUBA – The Juba City Council has launched a major road rehabilitation campaign aimed at improving road connectivity, sanitation, and access to essential public services across South Sudan’s capital.
The initiative, led by Mayor Christopher Swaka and his three deputies, was officially launched on Thursday in Hai Dar el Salaam. It forms part of the government’s 100-day priority program under the leadership of Central Equatoria State Governor Rabi Mujung Emmanuel.
Speaking during the launch, Mayor Swaka said the campaign seeks to address long-standing urban challenges that have hindered Juba’s development, pledging that his administration is committed to making city roads “safer and more reliable for all citizens.”
“Roads are vital for our daily lives — they connect communities, enable access to hospitals, and support economic activities,” the mayor said. “We are committed to making Juba roads safer and more reliable for all citizens.”
He stressed that road maintenance and preservation require collective responsibility, urging residents to protect newly rehabilitated infrastructure and avoid vandalism or misuse.
“The government is the people, and the people are the government. We appeal to all citizens to cooperate with us and take care of these roads — they are public assets meant to serve everyone,” Swaka added.
Mayor Swaka also cautioned residents against encroachment and illegal construction along road reserves, warning that such activities undermine the durability of public infrastructure and could lead to demolitions.
According to the city council, the rehabilitation works began in Hai Dar el Salaam and will extend to major neighborhoods including Custom, Atlabara, St. Kizito, Nyakuron, and Rock City. The upgraded road network will connect St. Kizito to the National Security Headquarters, providing an alternative corridor to the main routes behind Parliament and Airport Road.
Officials say the project is expected to ease traffic congestion, improve urban mobility, and enhance access to key social and economic facilities.
The city council has urged the public to remain patient and supportive as the works progress, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to better service delivery and sustainable urban development in Juba.
The 100-day priority program, launched earlier this year by Governor Mujung, mandates the municipal administration to restore order, enhance public cleanliness, and accelerate infrastructure rehabilitation in a bid to transform Juba into a “second Kigali” — a reference to Rwanda’s capital city, widely regarded for its cleanliness and urban planning.
“This campaign is a crucial step toward building a cleaner, more accessible, and better-connected capital,” the council’s statement read.
