Magnificent Acacia Mall lights up Kampala
Jun 24, 2014
It is now the place every guy will love to take his girl on a date, every father must take his family, and every group of university students will want to hang out.
By Gilbert Kidimu
It is now the place every guy will love to take his girl on a date, every father must take his family, and every group of university students will want to hang out. If you have never been to the Emirates, a moment in this Acacia Mall will awaken your desire for the finer things in life A fully modern shopping mall that without doubt matches international standards of construction and design, Acacia Mall provides the same sort of ambience and comfort as one would find in the best malls in the UAE, the United States and Europe at present. So when you visit for your first time, don’t be mistaken. It’s not Dubai; this is Kampala 2014.
Officially opened on Friday by H.E. the President of Uganda, Acacia Mall is the first fully air conditioned Mall in Uganda. Its magnificence signals the beginning of a transformed Kampala, giving the city a makeover from the old to the new, but raising the bar incredibly high. If indeed it represents a change in the way the city is going to expand, investors planning to build malls have their work cut out for them. Akhilesh Jog, Manager Acacia Mall and Apartments, defines the building’s architectural design as a combination of traditional and contemporary architecture. “They used a lot of bold columns, open voids and high ceilings to create a vibrant, airy and light atmosphere,” he says.
Developed by Gulf Stream Investments and constructed by Roko Construction, the mall combines Tuscan and Moorishdesigns with a touch of Middle Eastern, African, and the western world, reaching for ornate designs with bold colours, and simple, clean lines with earth tones on the outside. It is exotic, majestic, eclectic, contemporary and traditional - a true mix of classic and modern.
At the ground floor right at the entrance of Nakumatt supermarket are positioned shoppers’ benches beside lovely water fountains and calming indoor plants. Escalators (moving staircases) and elevators portray the mall’s superiority. Akhilesh says the building has a very high end security and surveillance system within and around the building.
The shimmering tiled floor is made from a combination of granite, marble and natural stones from East Africa, according to Akhilesh. Acacia Mall’s Food Court is the largest yet in Kampala, catering for all dishes familiar and unfamiliar. The Food Court takes in Big Mama’s Kitchen, Delish, Meza, Karam Halal Food, Nawab, The Wok, Chinese Cuisine, Taste Budz, and BBQ Lounge.
Big Mama’s kitchen is for those who prefer Ugandan dishes cooked the traditional way. Here you’ll find your well steamed matooke, gnut sauce, smoked meat,luwombo, etcetera. For diners who prefer eating from the outdoors, the food court has an outdoor sitting terrace. According to Judy Kyanda, Managing Director Knight Frank, the managers of the building, the Acacia Mall contain 65 units for rent on two levels, and basement parking on two levels. The top floor has space for offices for rent. Mall Activities
The mall’s enormous size allows it to have a number of activities. As such it holds a number of events; for example the Zumba Festival. Musician and guitarist Ronnie Kiryowa performs three times a week in the Food Court, which also hosts free face painting for kids and free cotton candy every weekend. There is a Jua kali market every Saturday and Sunday at the rooftop, in the exhibition area.
The same exhibition area is available for functions such as wedding receptions, corporate events, and more. Century Cinemax, a 3D cinema at the mall is also hosting the World Cup viewing in high resolution on wide screen. Back upstairs, there is a world class gym that even had the President enthralled as he inspected the equipment on offer and hoped that more Ugandans would take their health and fi tness seriously. A number of Kampala banks either have a branch or an ATM at the Acacia Mall, and so do telecommunication companies. “Mr Price is opening two shops this August, Mr Price Fashion and Mr. Price Home,” says Kyanda. Pizza, Cafés, modern cuisines, local food, and etcetera make the long list of the menus. “There is something for everyone.
Don’t let the sophistication of the building fool you,” promises Akhilesh KFC lovers finally have another branch, La Cafesserie Coffee Lounge, Emporio Milano designer men’s store, Bold, Nakumatt, form the long list of familiar brands found at the Acacia Mall. The central air conditioning technology distributes the cool air all through the building. If you want an experience of a lifetime in Uganda visit Acacia Mall.
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