06/05/2025
3 E. Equatoria mayors, Kapoeta East caretaker commissioner take oath
May 6, 2025 TORIT
The three mayors for Torit, Kapoeta, and Nimule, and the caretaker commissioner for Kapoeta East County in Eastern Equatoria State were sworn in by High Court Judge Obach Denyong at a function attended by state ministers in the State Secretariat Hall in Torit on Monday.
On Friday evening, Governor Louis Lobong issued several decrees dismissing and appointing some members in the three municipal councils, Kapoeta East County, the secretariat, and the coordination office in Juba.
He relieved Lokuda Elia Lonya, mayor of Kapoeta Municipality, Mustaffa Albino for Torit municipality, Lokai Philemon Lopeta, deputy mayor for Torit municipality, and Abdalla Angelo Lokeno, Kapoeta East County commissioner. He also relieved some SPLM Party chairpersons from their positions, namely: Abbas Louma Lorot of Kapoeta South County, Elia Lokuuda Lonya of Kapoeta Municipal Council, Stephen Rufo Atari of Torit County, and Joseph Aye Jospeh Oswaha of Torit Municipal Council.
The governor then appointed Stephen Lowosio Lomongin as caretaker commissioner of Kapoeta East County, Lotede Lomuria Abraham as mayor for Kapoeta Municipality and Kapoeta South County SPLM Party chairperson, Oyito Baptist Habihoi Soforonio as mayor for Torit Municipal Council and SPLM Party chairman of Torit County, and reappointed Caesar Fuli Longa as mayor for the newly upgraded Nimule Municipality and the SPLM Party chairperson in Nimule.
Siro Silvio Ewak was also appointed as Deputy Secretary General in Grade 2 in the Government of Eastern Equatoria State, and Lodae Pascalino Woyakori was named the new coordinator at the Eastern Equatoria State Coordination Office in Juba.
Stephen Lowosio Lomongin, the caretaker commissioner for Kapoeta East County, while speaking on behalf of the new office bearers, said they have been appointed at a critical time when the country is yearning for peace.
“It is now upon me to prove to you and the people of Kapoeta East that this appointment and trust are well deserved. I am cognizant of the fact that this task I have accepted to carry is not going to be easy, but with your support and advice, I believe I am going to succeed in making you and the people of Kapoeta East proud,” he said. “Your excellency, I also understand that I have come at a very critical time under the current political situation in our country, and above all, it is peace that our people in Eastern Equatoria need the most.”
Lowosio also thanked the SPLM-IO secretariat for working with the governor to appoint him as caretaker commissioner, saying his appointment as full commissioner had been overdue.
“Before the deputy governor traveled, she recommended it to our chairman (Dr. Riek Machar) in Juba, but because of the challenges we are having, it did not happen,” he added.
For his part, Jildo Abala Remy, the acting SPLM-IO chairperson in Eastern Equatoria State who is the minister of roads and bridges, congratulated the newly appointed officials and urged them to preach peace.
“As you will be going to deliver services to the communities, make sure you preach peace, for without peace, you will not move a step forward,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Governor Lobong said the appointment of new faces comes after complaints from the people. He urged the new officials to strengthen security and mobilize local resources.
“My advice is that you strengthen security in those respective places you are going to tackle. Peace and security come first. The second is mobilization of local resources, do not wait and think resources will come from the state or Juba. You must mobilize resources locally for services to the people,” he advised. “For you the mayors of Torit and Nimule, these are the centers of the group called niggers(gangs), so make sure you identify, arrest and take them to court. Send those who will be sentenced to Torit, and we will also send them to Juba.” Voice of Eastern Ssd
Radio Tamazuj
