Who is Ruth Muka: The Fearless Young Leader Transforming Nyan Cit Arialbeek Association (NCAA) in Juba, South Sudan

By Amer Mayen Dhieu, Brisbane, Australia

Sunday, 08 March 2026 (PW) — As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2026, it is important to recognise the strength, courage, and persistence of the young women who are shaping the future of their communities in South Sudan. Across the world, women continue to step into leadership roles and advocate for equal representation. Yet every woman’s leadership journey is shaped by the realities of her environment, economic pressures, political and social conditions, cultural expectations, and family influences, particularly within collectivist societies. In such settings, women must navigate multiple layers of challenges to lead effectively and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Despite these barriers, young women are rising, pushing boundaries, and entering spaces traditionally dominated by men. In contemporary Twic East community, where flood-induced displacement has scattered communities across IDP sites and refugee camps, young aspiring woman leaders must overcome self-doubt while managing societal expectations and gender biases from both men and women. While it was once exceedingly difficult for women to attain leadership positions, the landscape is gradually shifting.

As more women enter the public sphere, they often carry multiple responsibilities: breaking the glass ceiling, creating pathways for future generations of girls and women, and challenging deeply rooted stereotypes and long-held assumptions about women and leadership. Leadership in such contexts also requires daily acts of resilience, resisting patriarchy, building alliances, and expanding opportunities for women and girls.

From this context emerges Ruth Muka Ahou Abit Arok, a young and courageous leader whose vision and community-centred approach are revitalising the Nyan Cit Arialbeek Association (NCAA), Juba, while inspiring a new generation across Twic East County, Jonglei State, and South Sudan.

International Women’s Day Campaign at Gold Orchid, Shirkhat, Juba

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global celebration that honours women’s achievements while advocating for gender equality. The 2026 theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls” together with the global campaign “Give To Gain,” reinforces the call for collective responsibility in advancing women’s empowerment. This vision aligns closely with Ruth’s mission that the liberation and empowerment of women in Twic East must be a collective endeavour, and that meaningful progress requires solidarity and active participation across counties, states, and nations.

Today, on March 8, 2026, in Juba, the Nyan Cit Arialbeek Association (NCAA), one of Twic East County’s leading women-focused and girls-led community organisations, is spearheading a groundbreaking initiative. For the first time, a community-based, girls-led association is organising an International Women’s Day campaign at Gold Orchid, Shirkhat, Juba.

The phrase: Nyan Cit Arialbeek is a cherished Jieng metaphor likening the daughters of Twic East County to the Saddle‑billed Stork, a totem symbolising grace, endurance, and distinct identity. This symbolic bird reflects the uniqueness of Twic East people and their homeland. With a long lineage of historically significant National leaders, the Twic East community continues to uphold values rooted deeply in ancestral heritage. As a daughter of this land, Ruth Muka’s leadership embodies intersectional feminism grounded in lived experience, collective effort, and passion for women empowerment. She understands that leadership extends beyond breaking glass ceilings; it requires opening the doors for the upcoming generations of girls, creating positive pathways where women voices lead and shapes meaningful action for women and girls.

In recognition of International Women’s Day, I interviewed the Chairlady of Nyan Cit Arialbeek (NCAA), Juba, widely known as Ruth Muka Ahou Abit, a bright, visionary young woman whose determination is paving the way for meaningful change in our patriarchal society. Ruth Muka is dedicated not only to elevating the Nyan Cit Arialbeek Girls Association (NCAA) to a national platform but also to encouraging young women to empower themselves and take active roles in community development. Ruth Muka’s leadership is deeply rooted in her personal journey. Raised in a close‑knit family with a devoted father, mother, grandmother and siblings who recognised her abilities beyond gender, she grew up in an environment that nurtured her confidence and ambition. Her family belief in her potential, both individually and communally, has significantly contributed to the leader Ruth Muka is today.

Ruth Muka: A Rising Voice for Women’s Leadership in Twic East and Beyond

Therefore, the purpose of this article is to feature Ruth Muka by answering a central question: Who is Ruth Muka? While many recognise her as the Chairlady of Nyan Cit Arialbeek (NCAA), this featured profile explores her personal story and the lived experiences that shaped her into the young woman leader celebrated across the Twic East County, Jonglei State and South Sudan. The featured article aims to inspire other young women and girls to step forward, participate, and lead in their own capacities.

Ruth Muka comes from Apietloch, Kornyin, Paan-Ahou section of Kongor Payam, Twic East County, in Jonglei State. She was born in Mirieyi Resettlement Camp in Adjumani District, West Nile region of Uganda. Although her identity is rooted in Twic East heritage, her birth in a refugee settlement greatly influenced her worldview. Ruth Muka shared that a person’s birthplace whether favourable or difficult does not determine their destiny. She views her refugee background as a source of strength and inspiration that shaped who she is today.

Ruth Muka’s maternal roots also trace to both Twic East and Bor Counties. Her mother hails from the Pan-Dut, Hol community in Pakeer Payam, while her extended maternal lineage extended into Bor County through her grandmother from the Ateet community of Makwach Payam. Both her mother and grandmother played important roles in her upbringing and encouraged her pursuit of education. Her mother, who had Arabic‑language education background, used her own learning journey to motivate her children, both boys and girls. Her mother also possessed various skills that, supported by Ruth’s father, enabled her to raise the children during periods when he was away studying.

Academically and professionally, Ruth Muka has established a strong foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Bugema University, Uganda. Ruth completed her primary education at Redeemer Children Primary School, a Catholic boarding school in Uganda, which she believes played a significant role in shaping her character. She shared that her lower primary education in Kampala further instilled leadership, self‑confidence, and personal discipline early on, qualities that laid the foundation for her ambition and contributed to her journey toward becoming Chairlady of the Nyan Cit Arialbeek Girls Association (NCAA).

After completing primary school in Uganda, Ruth Muka attended Malek Academy, Juba Branch, in 2015, where she served as Head Girl. She recalled being the youngest girl in school and described herself as stubborn yet bright girl, particularly drawn to science subjects. Reflecting on her early dedication to leadership, she remembered how her teachers recognised her confidence and encouraged her to run for School Head Girl. Although she fell ill during the campaign, she returned to discover she had won by five votes, a victory she attributes to her confidence and willingness to speaking up. Following the 2013 crisis, Ruth Muka relocated to Uganda and studied at Metu Secondary School in Moyo District before returning to Juba and completed her high school studies at Bor College between 2016 and 2017.

The Forces Behind Ruth Muka’s Incredible Journey

Ruth grew up primarily with her father, Abit Arok Abit Kiir, who encouraged open communication and supported her autonomy. As a Reverend (Pastor) in the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECS) church, Uncle Abit Arok created a Christian home that instilled discipline, self‑confidence, and a strong awareness of her rights and potentials. Though a church leader, Ruth Muka shared her father was liberal in his parenting approach, trusting his daughters’ reasoning and valuing their opinions in family decisions. Ruth Muka is the fourth‑born among four sisters and two brothers. Despite having an older brother, her family always believed in her potential and future. She is the first in her family to obtain a university degree, an accomplishment she attributes to her family’s encouragement and belief in her.

Ruth Muka described her father as someone who spoke blessings into his children’s lives, especially through the names he gave them. He holds a Bachelor’s and a master’s degree in theology. When Ruth Muka was born, her father gave her the name “Muka,” which is derived from two Dinka words. “Muk” means to care for someone dear, whether in distress or in old age, while the “a” in Muka is a shortened form of “Yan/Xen,” meaning “I.” Thus, Muka is a profound Dinka name, carrying a depth of meaning beyond what one might imagine. Ruth Muka shared that it was her father who bestowed this name upon her at birth. Little did Uncle Abit Arok know that his precious daughter would one day extend her care beyond him to her entire Twic East community, Jonglei state and South Sudan.

When registering for her Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Ruth Muka was asked to provide three official names. Her father instructed her to use Ruth Muka Ahou. When she questioned why his name was not included, her father told her the certificate was hers, not his. Though she wanted her father’s name on her documents, her father insisted that “Muka” remains, reminding her that she would one day care for him and that the meaning of the name should live within her. Ruth Muka and her father settled on Ahou Ruth Muka Abit. However, as she became an adult, she chose to go by “Ruth Muka” in her legal and social identity, honouring her father’s intention and her Christian upbringing.

Breaking Barriers: Ruth Muka and the New Generation of Women Leaders in Twic East County.

After completing university, Ruth Muka worked in the Nutrition, WASH, and GBV protection sectors in Bor, Uganda, and Juba. She currently serves as a Coordinator in the Child Protection sector and as an Ambassador for Wireless Women Networking, a South Africa–based organisation representing South Sudan in menstrual and reproductive health initiatives. She has co‑authored a book through this organisation, entitled: “Sons and Daughters of the Future: Building Beyond the Timeline”. Ruth Muka also noted that she was the first Dinka woman to serve as Prime Minister in university leadership during her study period at Bugema University. She believes her academic and professional experiences paved the way for her community leadership roles.

Through her life journey, Ruth Muka has long aspired to lead in both community and professional setting. She once considered contesting for Twic East Youth Students Association (TEYSA) in Kampala but was discouraged particularly by women who insisted such spaces were male‑dominated. When she later moved to Juba, she assessed the social and political landscape and determined that it would be strategic to seek leadership in the Nyan Cit Arialbeek Association (NCAA), allowing the community to recognise her potential before she pursued leadership roles at the male dominated Twic East Youth Association (TEYA) in Juba. At the time she put her hands up for Nyan Cit Arialbeek (NCAA) leadership, Ruth Muka recalled concerns about her being new in Juba, unfamiliar to many people, and her Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) background. Nevertheless, guided by the principle that “charity begins at home,” she felt called to serve the Twic East community. Her motivation strengthened after serving as co‑MC at the Nyan Cit Arialbeek Uniform Launch in Juba, where she was inspired by the unity and organisation among Arialbeek girls. After the event, she asked herself, “What comes after this Ayahyah?” With ambition to contribute more value to the Nyan Cit Arialbeek (NCAA), Ruth then decided to run for NCAA leadership, first sharing her intentions with close friends and family who all wholeheartedly blessed her desire to pursue her calling in serving her community.

Serving as Chairlady for the Nyan Cit Arialbeek (NCAA) has profoundly shaped Ruth Muka. She reflected that the role has expanded her networks and increased her visibility and voice within Twic East County, neighbouring communities, across South Sudan as a nation, and internationally. She expressed that if she were given another life, she would once again choose to be born in Twic East community. Ruth Muka takes immense pride in being Nyan Cit Arialbeek and believes Twic East identity carries unique attributes and views herself as a proud daughter of the land. Throughout her leadership, she learned that whenever she approached sons and daughters of Twic East with ideas or requests, she received encouragement and support. Ruth Muka feels she is learning from the community, and they are learning from her, something she values deeply.

Message to Twic East Girls and South Sudanese women in general.

For International Women’s Day, Ruth Muka’s message is to never lose hope and never give up, regardless of circumstances. She acknowledges moments when she once questioned how to begin amid vulnerabilities, but with her family’s support, she perseveres and thrives. She encourages Twic East girls to dream big, pursue education, acquire skills, and seek empowerment through learning. Ruth Muka emphasises that education is an equaliser, one that fosters independence and self‑reliance. As Chairlady of the Nyan Cit Arialbeek Association (NCAA), she extends her message to the broader South Sudanese community, urging them to oppose child, early and forced marriages and become allies in women’s empowerment and development. Ruth Muka’s last message is to encourage parents to prioritise education in the lives of their children especially daughters just like what her parents and her maternal grandmother did in her academic success.

In conclusion, Women’s leadership is expanding globally, but the pathways vary by place, culture, and family experiences. In South Sudan, trailblazing young leaders like Ruth Muka embody resilience, purpose, and service conductors of communities who open leadership doors and opportunities for the upcoming generation. Ruth Muka’s journeys and leadership experience is not only personal triumphs, but a blueprints for building communities, creativity, and women strength for generations to come not just in Twic East community, Jonglei State, South Sudan but also across Africa.

The author, Ms. Amer Mayen Dhieu, is the Founder and Executive Director of ChildBride Solidarity (CBS), a Bor-based women’s rights and girls-led organization that champions women’s rights, and empowerment. She is also the co-founder of the Australia-based Twic East Girls Scholarship Program, which provides academic scholarships and mentorship to young girls from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Ms. Dhieu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in International Affairs, and a second Master’s degree in Gender Studies, all obtained in Australia. Through her academic training and advocacy work, she has dedicated her career to advancing gender equality, promoting girls’ education, and amplifying the voices of women and girls in South Sudan and across the diaspora.

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