South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
Governor of Central Equatoria State Gen. Augustino Jadalla Kamilo Wani on Friday inaugurated and laid foundation stone for the construction of the new central prison facility in Juba.
The 30 million U.S dollar project will be financed by Turkish company Mehmet Veysi Gonuc (MVG) and implemented together with MADO Construction and Enterprise Company.
The prison is expected to be built within 10 months on 1,500 square meters of land in Kapuri in Luri Payam of Juba County.
Jadalla said during the laying of the foundation stone in Juba, that the facility will decongest Juba main prison as it will accomodate1,216 inmates.
“This facility is going to be important and to provide a good impact to our people here, especially the inmates. The facility in Juba is over crowded with more than 3,000 inmates, which is inhuman,” Jadalla said.
He urged prison authorities to set up educational programs in prison to transform inmates’ lives.
“What we need is to get an education here, either to become a builder, carpenter or plumber. But we don’t always consider the punishment. We need to get them so that when they come back society can benefit from them,” Jadalla said.
Erden Mutaf, Turkish Ambassador in South Sudan said the project will employ 300 South Sudanese.
“At the end of the project when the prison is open 1,216 inmates will be in this new prison. As far as I know, the total surface is 1,500 square meters and the duration of the project is only 10 months,” Mutaf said.
Lt. Gen Juma Doka Legge, Director General of Prison Service of Central Equatoria State said the facility will keep inmates safe and contribute to development, reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
Doka thanked the Commissioner of Juba County for allocating 10,000 square meters of land located at the northern side of Juba County for the new prison facility.
Eng. Mayom Jook Kwai, Managing Director of MADO Construction and Enterprise Company Limited said the facility will provide inmates not only with secure housing, but also with education, skills and development.
“It will offer rehabilitation, growth, and opportunity for individuals to reintegrate in society as productive citizens,” Jook said.
