HON. MAYOR FLORA GABRIEL/COURTESY

The Mayor of Juba City said Thursday her administration is working on ways to reduce the prices of Nile water sold by tankers as well as the cost of public transport in the capital Juba.

Flora Gabriel Modi said the City Council is engaging with the Urban Water and other relevant parties dealing in water selling to see possible ways to reduce the prices of water.

Flora said she recognized the plight of women coping with the hard economic situation, and urged Juba residents to be patient as the government addresses the high prices of commodities and services.

“I want to inform you that as the Mayor of Juba City, I have been collaborating with the Urban Water and all the people working in Water so that we see possibilities to reduce the water,” Flora said.

“It will not come from me alone. It has to be with them all so that we reduce it. I know mothers are really crying for that but give me some time we are going to change or reduce the water.”

She was speaking during the celebration of the International Women Day in Juba.

She added that the City Council is also in contact with the Drivers Union to supply them with cheap fuel in order to reduce the cost of public transport.

“The transport in Juba City is almost 1000 or 1500 we called the drivers’ Union so that we see an alternative of even getting them a station to give fuel with less price.”

Juba City, in whose midst the Nile River passes through, does not have pipe water distribution system and its residential areas rely on water tankers for its domestic use.

The city residents have since decried high water prices and called on the government to construct a more reliable water distribution network.

On 10th January 2024, the Economic Cluster led by Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga approved a proposed 9-million-US-dollar budget for the purchase of water tankers to supply water in Juba.

The proposal was met with sharp criticism from members of the public.