Bush Buse, Program Coordinator for WPDI. (-)

Central Equatoria Youth and Sports Minister has proposed the use of one crude oil cargo to finance the construction of sports facilities in Juba, but Cabinet Affairs argued that projects must be financed through approved budgets.

Bush Buse,  said the funding could help establish what he described as a “sports city” in the capital.

He made the remarks during the inauguration of the National Olympic Committee office in Juba.

“We can build a sports city even with one cargo, let us engage the national government so that we can build a sports city here in Juba,” Buse said.

However, the proposal was opposed by the National Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Martin Elia Lomuro, who argued that government projects should be financed through approved budgets rather than crude oil allocations.

Lomuro said development projects must follow proper government budgeting procedures.

“South Sudan is the only country where people talk about cargo, even in Saudi Arabia they do not talk about cargo, they do not know about cargo, they know money and budget so you better prepare your budget rather than demand a cargo,” he said.

The exchange highlights ongoing debates over how public projects should be financed amid South Sudan’s economic challenges and dependence on oil revenues.