Business Community irked over reconfigured Juba Mall design

The Chairperson of the Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce, Robert Pitia Francis, has voiced his disappointment over the recent decision to reconfigure the architectural design of the proposed Juba Mall.

By Jenifer James

The Chairperson of the Central Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce, Robert Pitia Francis, has voiced his disappointment over the recent decision to reconfigure the architectural design of the proposed Juba Mall.

Originally planned as a three-storey building with a basement, the project has been downsized to a single-storey design, raising concerns about it’s ability to accommodate the 210 traders, including vendors who were evicted from the site where the construction of the Juba Mall is taking place.

Pitia expressed on Tuesday frustration at not being informed about the change of the architectural design. 

“It would have been better if the business community had been updated on the revised plans. We were initially told the project would be a three –storeyed building with a basement, but now we are hearing it has being reduced to just one storey with a basement. Why haven’t we been notified about this change?”

Pitia said the plan was to construct three floors, including a basement, as per the agreement.

 “We were told from the beginning that the plan was for three floors (G+3), but now it is G+1. We need clarity on these changes,” he said.

The former Juba City Mayor, Michael Ladu Allah Jabu , explained that the original plan was altered to include a basement after it was found that the initial design did not align with typical mall structures in the region. 

Allah Jabu said that before he was fired, the city council in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), decided to adapt the plan, with the basement intended to serve as the foundation for the upper floors. 

“We realised we needed a basement because modern cities can’t have large malls, like the one being built here, without underground parking,” said Allah Jabu, adding that the basement will accommodate 120 cars.

On May 24th, 2024, the construction of the Juba modern market was halted and is expected to be ready by August this year for public use.

 The project being constructed by Infinity Development Construction Company cost $4 million.

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