Leaders of Christ Church Nakasongola say they are open to dialogue with South Sudan’s parliament over a long-running land dispute, following intervention by the Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), even as the case remains before the courts.
The church said Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba convened talks between the two sides in an effort to ease tensions and explore a peaceful resolution to the dispute, which has involved the demolition of church property.
Speaking to reporters in Juba on Wednesday, the church’s senior pastor, Rev. Michael Kenyi Lemi, said the meeting was held at parliament on December 22 under the Speaker’s directive and chaired by First Deputy Speaker Ambrose Lomin.
“The discussion was about how this issue can be resolved amicably,” Rev. Lemi said, adding that parliamentary leaders acknowledged the church’s grievances.
According to Lemi, the First Deputy Speaker told church leaders that the government understood their suffering and wanted the matter settled peacefully. He quoted Speaker Kumba as expressing concern over the church’s situation and a desire to resolve the dispute without further conflict.
However, Lemi stressed that any agreement must follow formal legal procedures, noting that the dispute is already before the courts.
“This matter has gone far and is now in court. Everything must be written,” he said, rejecting informal or verbal arrangements that could later be disputed.
The church has insisted on legal representation throughout the process, Lemi said, adding that its lawyer, Santino Wani, would engage directly with government lawyers to clarify outstanding issues and guide negotiations.
While welcoming dialogue, Lemi said the church’s position remains unchanged.
“The believers want their land returned, and they want compensation for everything that was demolished or lost,” he said.
Another senior pastor, Rev. Abraham Marial, said the church has forgiven what happened and is focused on reconciliation.
“As a church, we have forgiven what happened in the past. We cannot hold bitterness in our hearts,” Marial told reporters, adding that church leaders made clear during talks that they were seeking peace, not revenge.
Marial said parliamentary officials requested a detailed list of the church’s losses and indicated discussions on compensation and land restoration could continue early next year.
“They asked that our lawyer prepare a list of all losses so we can sit together and see how to compensate and restore the land,” he said.
Despite the talks, church leaders confirmed the legal case remains active.
“More dialogue will come, but the case is still in court,” Lemi said. “If it is resolved properly, then everything will be okay.”
Background to the dispute
The dispute between Christ Church Nakasongola and South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) stems from competing claims over a parcel of land in Juba on which the historic church has stood for decades.
Church leaders say the congregation has occupied the land, adjacent to the Dr. John Garang Mausoleum, for more than 40 years and that it is the rightful owner. They allege that efforts by government officials to evict the church and redevelop the site began at least as early as 2022, when the Ministry of Justice reportedly served an eviction notice. The church responded by filing a lawsuit, including at the East African Court of Justice, to challenge attempts to remove it and to assert its property rights.
Parliament, for its part, contends the land in question was allocated in 1972 to host regional government facilities and is public property under its authority. It says those who settled there — including church founders — were compensated to build elsewhere, and it has denied allegations that current leaders are personally benefiting from the dispute. The TNLA has also said accusations about land grabbing are misleading.
Tensions have erupted at times; previous efforts to clear the site in mid-2023 led to confrontations and injuries as security forces moved to enforce evictions.
Despite ongoing court action and protests from church members, the dispute has remained unresolved for several years.