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The story of rebuilding Burundi's biggest shopping complex; BUJA CITY PLAZA (Ex-Marche central de Bujumbura)

  • Mar 22
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 15


The story of Rebuilding Burundi’s central market BUJA CITY PLAZA begins in Kayanza. During the presidential conference of the burundian diaspora members, when the attendees gets to interact with the high authorities (Government members) especially the President, Mr. Fablice D. MANIRAKIZA the chairperson of UBAKANATION GROUP and now the promoter of BUJA CITY PLAZA, proposed to the president a form of a partnership to the state of Burundi to rebuild Burundi’s central market which was destroyed by fire on the 17/01/2013. Fablice went-on and proposed a mode of financing and developing project which was a partnership of BOOT Contract (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer) in the form of PPP (Public-Private Partnership).


The president of Burundi highly appreciated the idea, considering the notable work Mr. Fablice has accomplished in Burundi such as initiating & building Burundi's first gated community and other several major projects in housing which has contributed significantly in the development of Burundi. The president of Burundi made a recommendations, allowing Mr. Fablice to communicate and collaborate with the concerned government bodies such as Burundi’s Ministry of Infrastructure.


Since then, the idea has went through several steps of negotiations, studies, analysing, approving, etc.


The notable steppingstone of process is as follows;

  1. On the 30/07/2024, Fablice D. MANIRAKIZA made a proposal of financing and developing BUJA CITY PLAZA.

  2. On the 02/09/2024, The 1st Convention (Agreement) was signed between Burundi's Ministry of Infrastructure and UBAKANATION GROUP, allowing UBAKANATION GROUP to clean up the site and to the preliminary work, such as studies, architectural design and more.

  3. On the 27/02/2025, The cabinet meeting chaired by Burundi's president Évariste Ndayishimiye gave a go ahead to the Ministry of Infrastructure to negotiate with UBAKANATION GROUP a partnership contract of Public-Private Partnership.

  4. On the 07/01/2026, a second session of cabinet meeting chaired by Burundi's president Évariste Ndayishimiye made a recommendations for the state of Burundi to join by being part of financing through a joint venture (JV) company. The ideas was discussed carefully and agreed by both parties. The state of Burundi invested through Burundi's youth bank (BIJE) and UBAKANATION GROUP invested through the Mutual Fund ONE AFRICA INVESTMENT FUND (1AIF) in a formed joint venture (JV) company; UBAKA LANDMARKS.

  5. On the 26/02/2026, a third session of cabinet meeting chaired by Burundi's president Évariste Ndayishimiye analysed and approved the final contract of PPP, which granted a 3 years of Building BUJA CITY PLAZA and 24 Years of concession only for the first phase, which is five stores shopping mall.

  6. On the 19/03/2026, the newly formed joint venture company UBAKA LANDMARKS Legally represented by Mr. Fablice D. MANIRAKIZA, officially signed the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Contract with the Burundi’s Minister of Infrastructure and the Burundi’s Minister of Finance to began the work of BUJA CITY PLAZA.

  7. On the 09/04/2026, the President of Burundi and other concerned Ministers signed a decree nominating 7 members to represent the state of Burundi in the board of directors in the company UBAKA LANDMARKS (https://presidence.gov.bi/2026/04/11/decret-n100-057-du-09-avril-2026-portant-nomination-des-administrateurs-representant-letat-du-burundi-au-conseil-dadministration-de-la-societe-de-projet-ubaka-landmarks-chargee-de-la-concep/)


The following has become a history in making.


This is the role of each company in developing BUJA CITY PLAZA;

  • Maître d’Ouvrage / Project Owner : STATE OF BURUNDI

  • Maître d’Ouvrage délégué / Project Owner's Representative : UBAKA LANDMARKS S.M

  • Entreprise / Developer : UBAKANATION GROUP

 
 
 
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