Lawmakers threaten to impeach Machar-nominated Kajo-Keji commissioner

JUBA – The Central Equatoria State Legislative Assembly is threatening to impeach Kajo-Keji County Commissioner Kenyi Erasto Michael together with three ministers over illegal logging activities in the area.

James Modi Lomindi, the Chairperson of the Specialized Committee for Information, Culture, Youth, and Sports at the State Legislative Assembly said there is going to be a sitting today Wednesday and that they have demanded Erasto to appear before the August House alongside three ministers.

“There is going to be a sitting and we have demanded the Commissioner to be in the house tomorrow [today] plus the Minister of Finance, Planning and Investment, the Minister of Trade and Industry and we have the Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agency will also be there,” he was quoted by NO.1 Citizen Newspaper to have said.

“If he doesn’t show up on Wednesday, that means there is going to be a motion of impeachment, so we have heard that he has accepted to come and he is going to be available tomorrow [today],” he added.

Mawa Moses, the State Minister of Roads and Bridges who was part of a ministerial committee sent by the Central Equatoria Cabinet to investigate the issues of persistent logging said it was time the August House spills the beans on activities that have been banned in the state.

“Our report indicated that the then administrations of 32 states, that’s the commissioners of Kangapo and Lire which was Kajo-Keji County that time also had backed that is very clear, because when we interacted with the loggers they made it clear that they were invited and it is not just only we have said but we evidence of contracts that were signed by those former administrations,” the minister told the daily publication.

Erasto stands accused of illegally receiving thousands of dollars from loggers with the leadership of Kajo-Keji community getting its share.

“We discovered that the commissioner collects 1,500 US Dollars per truck. The community of Kajo-Keji where I come from also collects money from these loggers. A fee of 2.5 million Ugandan Shillings where the 2 million goes to the landlord and the 500,000 Ugandan Shillings goes to the administration of payam,” Mawa was quoted.

He added that “The community signs contracts with the loggers, we have evidence, so everyone is involved.”

In 2020 and 2021, the Governor of Central Equatoria State Emmanuel Adil, issued gubernatorial orders banning logging in the region. However, the orders did not specify the penalties one would be handed in lieu of violation. This prompted continuation in the illegal business.