Memoscar Lasuba, Author at Eye Radio

Fresh graduate calls on govt to strengthen higher education system

Posted on October 28, 2024October 29, 2024 by Memoscar Lasuba

One of South Sudanese graduates from Uganda’s Nkumba University’s various graduate and post-graduate courses– among whom was the National Environment Minister Josephine Napuon, has urged the government to strengthen the education system to enable the citizens to study within the country.

Nkumba University held its 26th graduation ceremony on Saturday.

105 South Sudanese were among the graduates who received diplomas, bachelor and master’s degrees in various faculties, including Nursing, Information Technology, Business, and Political Studies.

Minister Josephine Napwon Cosmas, who earned a postgraduate diploma in Public Administration and Management, expressed her joy, calling it a “dream fulfilled.”

Napwon encouraged her fellow graduates to apply their newly acquired knowledge to benefit South Sudan.

She urged all South Sudanese graduates to bring back what we have acquired to make positive changes in our country,” said Napwon.

Among the graduates was Queen Elizabeth Taban, who shared her journey of completing her studies while raising her young child.

She said education has no limits and encourage other to pursue their dreams despite the challenges.

“I graduated because I did a post-graduate on Diploma in Public Administration and Management. I hope that all South Sudanese who are graduated take what we have acquired from this university back home.

“I believe that going for further learning, will bring changes and more reforms to South Sudan,” she said.

Another graduate, Gai Moses, who completed a Master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, urged the South Sudanese government to strengthen the country’s education system.

He highlighted the need for standardized education to reduce the challenges South Sudanese students face when studying abroad.

Meanwhile, another South Sudanese graduate who identified herself Queen Elizabeth Taban expressed hinted she made it despite conceiving to a baby while attending college.

“I am calling on the government of South Sudan to strengthen our education system in the country to reduce the challenges we face studying outside out country.

“My suggestion is that our government should focus standardization education system so the next generation can study in the country not abroad.

Fear grips Melut farmers as pests devastate farms

Posted on October 28, 2024October 28, 2024 by Memoscar Lasuba

Local officials in Upper Nile’s Melut County have raised an alarm over the threats posed by pests to 560 thousand acres of farmland, putting half of this year’s crop production at risk of destruction.

They say the severe pest invasion by birds, locusts, rats, and monkeys, has left local farmers facing potential crop losses.

Local officials emphasize the need for immediate support to prevent further destruction of essential crops and ensure food security for the county.

The Commissioner of Melut County, Chok Zain Arop, urgently called on state and national governments to provide immediate support to save crops from the severe pest infestations.

Arop warned that without swift intervention, the county faces substantial crop losses, threatening food security for this agricultural season.

” We appeal to the state and national governments to urgently rescue the situation because if this situation continues.

“We will be exposed to losing the crops at the county level for this agricultural season, and we will not even be able to obtain the crops that were planted in August due to birds and crop pests in the absence of urgent intervention from the government”, he said.

On his part, the County Director of Agriculture, Gout Mayiik, reported that 560,000 acres were cultivated this season.

However, he cautioned that crop production could be reduced by half due to various pests, including locusts, mice, monkeys, and an overwhelming bird population.

He says these pests have significantly affected crops, particularly corn, which have been broken and damaged.

“The cultivated area here in the province is 560 thousand acres. Our expectation at the beginning of this pest, we can secure high productivity for perhaps fifty per cent of the produced crop, but now the number of pests is threatening our crop production”, said Mayiik.

In response, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says it is preparing to send a spray plane to Renk County next week.

Nyok Deng Ayiik, chairperson of the Renk Farmers Union, confirmed that FAO had promised pest control assistance this season, with local farmers estimating a potential 90% crop success rate but expressing concern about ongoing threats from pests.

This coordinated effort is viewed as critical in ensuring a successful harvest and maintaining agricultural productivity in the region.

12 suspected illegal land dealers arrested in Juba

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Memoscar Lasuba

At least12 individuals suspected of illegally demarcating lands in the Jebel Timan area in Juba County have bee arrested, according to Commissioner Emmanuel Tete.

He said the arrest followed reports about individuals who claimed to be government workers, threatening land owners especially women who want to build on their rightful plots.

He adds that the suspects were also involved extorting 2,000 to 3000 US dollars in illegal building permits from land owners in the area.

“What you see here is a group of criminals doing illegal demarcation and they claim to be from the government and causing insecurity in the areas.

“They threaten people from building in their plots especially women, and they threaten people to pay them $2,000 to $3,000, the least person can be asked to pay SSP. 5 million ssp and all the money is going to their pockets.

“We received a lot of reports, and when we investigated, we discovered that they are a group of land grabbers and thank God we arrested them.

According to Tete, the individuals were arrested on Friday while in their offices in Kapuri block 7.

A woman who identified herself as only Mary testified being stopped from building on her plot by the suspects who told her documents were not original.

“I bought a land from my brother and I obtained original documents from Ministry of Housing , and after buying I made sure that I changed the documents to my name and everything went well.

“What I was left with, was to go to the Payam and get a building permit. But before that I send my sister to mark the plot before I bring the building material.

‘When I sent my sister there, she was told we cannot do anything before meeting them in their office. They also said our documents from housing were not original saying theirs are original.”

Dr Alic laments World Bank, IMF high-borrowing interest rate

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Memoscar Lasuba

Bank of South Sudan Governor has lamented the high-interest loans for African countries by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) saying these restrict funding for critical sectors like education and healthcare.

Dr James Garang who doubles as Chairman of the East African Community Monetary Affairs Committee

reportedly pointed out Africa is experiencing a staggering 132 per cent rise.

“UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) data shows that developing countries face a 64 per cent increase in interest payments over the past decade, with Africa experiencing a staggering 132 per cent rise,” he said.

Dr Garang also criticized the inadequate representation of Africa at the ongoing annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington DC.

” Africa, despite being nearly 20 per cent of the global population, has historically lacked adequate voting power in institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.”

He said IMF and World Bank need what he described as comprehensive overhaul, citing Africa’s under representation and burden some debt.

“The current system, with its skewed representation and burden some debt, poses a significant threat to Africa’s development aspirations. Urgent reforms are necessary to create a more equitable and sustainable financial architecture.”

He added that the representation translates into limited access to resources and higher borrowing costs for African countries.

World Bank offers to renovate Ministry of Higher Education Headquarters

Posted on October 27, 2024October 28, 2024 by Memoscar Lasuba

The World Bank has offered to fund the renovation of the Ministry of Higher Education’s headquarters on Juba-Yei Road, as announced by the Minister of Information and Communication.
Continue reading “World Bank offers to renovate Ministry of Higher Education Headquarters”

Cabinet approves $2 million for innovation in education sector

Posted on October 26, 2024October 27, 2024 by Memoscar Lasuba

The Council of Ministers has approved $2 million US for Higher Education to boost accessibility and innovation in the sector. Continue reading “Cabinet approves $2 million for innovation in education sector”

U.S. Embassy calls for action against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment

Posted on October 26, 2024October 27, 2024 by Memoscar Lasuba

The US Embassy in Juba has called on stakeholders in the humanitarian and development assistance sector to commit to a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. Continue reading “U.S. Embassy calls for action against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment”

Israel hits Iran with retaliatory air strikes

Posted on October 26, 2024October 26, 2024 by Memoscar Lasuba

Israel has launched air strikes on Iran, with blasts heard in the capital Tehran

Israel’s military says the strikes were on Iranian military targets and all its planes have returned safely.

Military bases in the west and south west of the Iranian capital were targeted, according to an Iranian news agency close to the country’s Revolutionary Guards – Iranian state media says two soldiers were killed

The Israel Defense Forces say the strikes are in response to “months of continuous attacks” from Iran and after a barrage of Iranian missiles hit Israel on 1 October.

The US was briefed on the strikes beforehand, but did not have any involvement in the operation, according to the Pentagon.

The question now is whether Iran will respond, says the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen.

Over 1.3 million displaced by flood in S. Sudan-OCHA

Posted on October 26, 2024 by Memoscar Lasuba

More than 1.3 million people are impacted by floods in 42 counties and the Abyei Administrative Area, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs .

Jonglei and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states comprise about half of the affected population.

According to OCHA’s floods snapshot, as of 25^th October 2024, About 327,000 individuals are displaced in 18 counties and the Abyei Administrative Area.

It adds that joint government and interagency assessments last week found an additional two hundred and thirty thousand people in Jonglei, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile states are to be affected.

“More than 1.3 million people are impacted by floods in 42 counties and the Abyei Administrative Area, with Jonglei and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states comprising about half of the affected population.

“About 327,000 individuals are displaced in 18 counties and the Abyei Administrative Area,” said OCHA.

OCHA further noted that heavy rainfall and flooding have rendered 15 major supply routes impassable, significantly restricting access to affected areas.

Eritrea withdraws from the CHAN 2024 Qualifiers

Posted on October 26, 2024October 26, 2024 by Memoscar Lasuba

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed Eritrea’s withdrawal from the CHAN 2024 Qualifiers, resulting in the cancellation of the upcoming matches at Juba National Stadium.

CAF’s Competitions Division extended appreciation to all involved parties for their understanding of this change.

Originally, Eritrea was scheduled to face Ethiopia in the CHAN qualifiers on October 31, 2024, in Juba, with a return match set for November 3, 2024.

Following Eritrea’s withdrawal, Ethiopia will instead compete against either Sudan or Tanzania in the final qualification round.

The CHAN 2025 tournament, exclusively for players in domestic leagues, aims to highlight local talent and will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from February 1–28, 2025.

The CECAFA zone, which includes the three host countries, will receive an additional slot due to their automatic qualification as hosts. As a result, the total number of teams qualifying for the final tournament will be increased to 19 teams.

Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will participate in the Qualifiers and in addition to their automatic qualification as hosts, the team achieving the best result in the CECAFA qualifiers will also advance to the final tournament.

This withdrawal continues a pattern for Eritrea’s national team, which last participated in a major qualification game in January 2020, where they lost 1-0 to Sudan in a friendly match in Asmara.

Eritrea has consistently withdrawn from various tournaments, including the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and more recently, the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, due to concerns over player defections.

According to The Guardian, Eritrea’s Ministry of Sports and Culture has raised concerns that players may choose not to return after travelling abroad.

As of November 2023, Eritrea’s men’s team has not played an international match in four years, largely due to these ongoing concerns.

-MICHAEL