Born in Juba city in 1943, he was a citizen of Central
Equatoria State (CES), of Pöjulu ethnicity in Loka West Boma and Kennyi Payam
of Laniya. His sub clans are called Mulusuk, Gerangur and Kanam. He was a son
of Samsona Lemi Jadein Laku known by his nick name Lokojo.
His academic journey started at Kator Elementary
School, Okaro junior boarding school in EES, and went on to attend Rumbek high
school. Hero Taban could not continue his studies in Rumbek due to political
instabilities and deterioration of security in Southern Sudan. He joined Dr.
Charles Bakheit, Timothy Tombe, Marcello, John Tombe and many other southern
Sudanese students and fled to Uganda for better opportunities and a conducive
environment to continue their education.
In Uganda, he attended Lubiri high school and went on
to study Sciences at the University of Dar es Salam [Al-Sala’am] in Tanzania.
After graduating from the University of Dar Al-Sala’am, he returned to Uganda
once again and taught science and mathematics at Lubiri high school in Kampala,
so that he could provide social support, and maintain family ties with his
brother Hassan Luga and sister Mama Eli who are currently living in Lansing,
Michigan State.
In 1967, hero Taban left his teaching position at
Lubiri high school and enrolled in the faculty of Science and studied biology
at Makerere University. After the Addis Ababa Agreement (1973 AAA) he returned
to Sudan and was awarded two master scholarships in 1973 and 1979 by the
southern Sudan Regional Government in Juba to study Forestry in Nigeria and
England.
Hero Taban holds a B.Sc.
in biology and M.Sc. Forestry from University of
Ibadan in Nigeria, and second M.Sc. Forestry
from the University of Wales in North Bangor. His research paper was entitled Imatong Mountains Forest Development Project
in Katire, in Eastern Equatoria.
He began his professional career as Deputy Governor of the Forestry Department at the
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in Khartoum, Sudan and later transferred
to Juba where he assumed the new role of Deputy Director General of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Director General of the
Department of Southern Sudan Forests in Juba. In 1977, as Senior expert in the
field of Forestry he lectured at University of Juba, faculty of Natural
Resources and helped to establish the concept of Cooperative Societies which proliferated in Juba and other parts of
Southern Sudan. He was the only senior national and
international expert in Forestry at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in
Southern Sudan and the second in Sudan until his death.
Socially, he was regarded as a man of
tradition when it comes to family affairs. For instance, when his younger
sister Eli was about to get married in Kampala, he sent a letter to his parents
(Simsona Mayani and Timateyo
Lubang) seeking their consent, advice, and to
delegate to him power of attorney to represent the interests and desires of the
family. He was always on top of such issues.
Politically, his activism commenced when he was a
student in Uganda, but worked very discreetly and which is why many of his
colleagues were shocked to learned about his political activism and role as a ringleader
of the July 1992 SPLA insider/cell movement in Juba. In 1983, he was elected
chairman of the Pöjulu community in Juba; and chairman of the Cooperative
Society for the grinding mill at Malakia market.
Hero Taban was the ringleader of the SPLA insider/
cell movement led by late Maj. Gen. Peter Cirilo and most meetings were held in
his residence. His house in Uganda was always and, in most cases, called the
students club. Additionally, he was the right-hand man of Maj. Gen. Stuarlino
Erika, former Governor of CES. Without him nothing was accomplished in the
government. Erika always appointed him in most government committees and he was
the frontier for any success of any committee.
Hero Taban has exceptional nationalism and was a
community leader, patriotic, visionary, inspirational, honest, dedicated to
Southern Sudan cause, a kind man in English but not in Arabic, generous, very
quiet with a cigarette in his mouth, hardworking, a real gentleman and beloved
father and husband.
He was married and is survived by four children, three
are University graduates, two joined South Sudan Police Academy and are
currently Officers serving in South Sudan Police Services (SSPS) and one is
graduate but unemployed. His immediate relatives are Maj. Gen. Salah Samsona
Zakaria Jadein, SSPS legal counsel, Hassan Luqa Simon Mayani, Lasu Timateo
Lubang, Amin Simon Mayani, Brig Yagoub Simon, Elhaj Simisiona, Khamis Timateo,
John Sadaraka, Kondu Jackson Jongo, Juma Lasu, Sabah Scopas Luwati, sisters
Baka Samsona, Dementila Congo Samsona, Dehiya Timateo Lubang, Elizabeth (aka
Mama Eli) Simon Mayani, Mery Simon Mayani and Jane Jackson Jongo.
Hero Taban was accused of supporting the SPLA. It
started with an argument about his shipment of cement that he ordered from
Khartoum to Juba for his department of Forestry project. The military base
Commander in Juba seized the shipment and wanted to use the cement for
reconstruction of Juba airport bridge. Hero Taban confronted him and demanded
the return of the cement shipment to his department. This was where his ordeal
started with security officers. On August 16th, 1992 he was arrested by the
national security and detained at white house -the tortures and killings centre
with the rest of true greatest heroes and killed in cold blood.
Considering his contributions in the field of Forestry
and participation in the struggle for South Sudan independence, the CES
government should rename the current ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and
dedicate it in his memory. Also, establish a CES Forestry scholarship fund (CESFSF) for students interested in
the field of Forestry.
