 Project Manager, Kur John.){kind=link}
By Ginaba Lino
The construction of Juba’s urban roads has stalled due to the government’s failure to release the promised $35 million, according to the Africa Resource Cooperation (ARC) Project Manager, Kur John.
Kur revealed that despite the government’s announcement in January to fund the 35-kilometer road project, no payment has been made to date, halting all progress.
“Yes, it’s true,” Kur confirmed. “The government launched the rehabilitation and upgrading of internal roads in January, with a promise to release $35 million. However, we have not received any payment so far, and as of now, there is no progress on any part of the project.”
Kur mentioned that ARC was initially promised funding within two weeks after the launch, but the project has been at a standstill due to the unfulfilled financial commitment. He urged the government to ensure funds are secured before launching projects to maintain public trust.
“One lesson to be learned from this is that the government must ensure the availability of funds before making public announcements or launching projects,” he stated. “This practice of launching projects that eventually disappear erodes public confidence in the government.”
Kur emphasized that had ARC received the funds and failed to deliver, they would have been held accountable by the authorities. However, the lack of communication from the government indicates that no funds have been released.
“If we had been paid and failed to do the work, we would have been questioned by the government by now. The fact that we haven’t been held accountable confirms that no payment was made,” he added.
Kur speculated that the government might have been relying on oil revenue, which has been disrupted by the closure of Sudan’s pipeline. The 35-kilometer road project, launched in January 2024, was intended to upgrade key roads in Juba, including the Freedom Bridge Road, Gudele-Rock City, Hai Tarawa, Hai Munuki, Suk Maleshia, Miya Saba, and Referendum Roads.