📰 Juba · page 2

Between 2008 and 2011, the Ugandan government and the Southern Sudanese government undertook joint efforts to develop a railway link between the Northern Ugandan city of Gulu and Juba, with an extension to Wau.69 A memorandum of understanding between the two governments was signed to that effect in August 2008.[30]70 The same memorandum outlined plans to develop the road network between the two countries.71 Recent media reports from the region suggest that the railway link from Juba may link directly with Kenya, bypassing Uganda.[31]72 Juba International Airport is the site of large numbers of flights bringing UN and non-governmental organization (NGO) aid into South Sudan, as well as passengers and general air freight.73 The construction of a new terminal began in late 2007 when the oil prices were very high ($100+).74 Since then, with the oil prices going back down, the fate of the new terminal is uncertain.75 Building on the new terminal restarted in early 2014.76 As of November 2025, there are daily flights to Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa corpus, Ethiopia, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi corpus, Kenya, Entebbe International Airport in Entebbe, Uganda, and Wau Airport in Wau, South Sudan.[32]77 The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has a large compound near the Juba Airport.78

Demographics

In 2005, Juba's population was 163,442.79 Based on an analysis of aerial photos, the best estimate of several donors working in Juba calculated the 2006 population at approximately 250,000.80 The 5th Sudan Population and Housing Census took place in April/May 2008, stating the population of Juba County to be 372,413 (the majority residing in Juba City, which dominates the county), but the results were rejected by the Autonomous Government of Southern Sudan.[33]81 In 2011, the population of the city of Juba was estimated at 372,410, but may potentially be higher.[34] as of 2013, the city's population was growing at a rate of 4.23%.[35]82 The Juba City Council's CEO, Martin Simon Wani, has claimed the population exceeds one million with up to a million more living in surrounding suburbs.[36]83 Suburbs adjacent to Juba have become increasingly dense as people from the countryside move into the city for economic opportunities.[24][37]84

Economy

Following South Sudan's independence in 2011, Juba experienced rapid economic growth and urban development.85 The prospect of an economic boom has brought thousands of merchants to Juba, from northern Sudan and East Africa. as of October 2010, several regional and international businesses have established a presence in Juba.86 The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and the Kenyan banking conglomerate Kenya Commercial Bank has its South Sudanese headquarters in the city and a branch network of eleven branches throughout South Sudan.[39]87 The three indigenous South Sudanese commercial banks namely; Buffalo Commercial Bank, Ivory Bank and Nile Commercial Bank, all maintain their headquarters in Juba.88 Equity Bank, another regional finance services provider also has a branch in Juba.89 National Insurance Corporation (NIC), the leading Ugandan insurance services provider, maintains an office in the city.[40]90 Despite recent economic difficulties brought about by the 15 December 2013 civil war, Juba has continued to grow and construction is still booming.91 This is probably due to the high demand for affordable housing and hotel accommodations.92 Research from the Overseas Development Institute found that markets in Juba are transient, as many traders come only to make a quick profit and therefore do not invest in storage facilities or shops.[41][42]93 Since 2005, Chinese involvement in Juba has expanded through healthcare assistance, including medical teams stationed at the Juba Teaching Hospital.[43]94

Roads

Juba has major roads that go to major towns in South Sudan, such roads include the Juba-Nimule road[44] and the Aggrey Jaden Road.[45] as others are seen in the table below;95

Food

A variety of foods are eaten in Juba including:96

• Kisra: A staple food in South Sudan corpus, kisra is a type of flatbread made from sorghum flour or maize flour.97 It is typically served with soup or stew and is prepared by mixing sorghum flour with water to form a thick batter, which is then left to ferment for a few days before being cooked on a hot griddle.[49]98
• Bamia: A popular dish in Juba, bamia is a stew made with okra, tomatoes, onions, and meat (usually beef or goat).99 The okra is sliced and cooked with the other ingredients until tender, resulting in a thick and flavorful stew that is often served with rice or kisra.[50]100
• Ful Medames: A traditional breakfast dish in Juba, Ful medames is made from cooked fava beans that are smashed and seasoned with garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil.101 It is typically served with flatbread or pita.[50][49]102
• Asida: A type of porridge made from sorghum flour, Asida is a popular dish in Juba that is often served with meat or vegetable stew.103 The sorghum flour is mixed with water to form a thick paste, which is then cooked until it reaches a smooth and creamy consistency.[50][49]104
• Malakwang: A traditional dish in South Sudan, Malakwang is a stew made from leafy greens, peanuts, butter, and meat (usually goat or beef).105 The greens are cooked with the other ingredients until tender, resulting in a rich and flavorful stew that is often served with rice or Ugali.106
• Ugali: A staple food in many African countries, Ugali is a type of maize porridge that is often served with stews or soups.107 The maize flour is mixed with water to form a thick paste, which is often cooked until it reaches a smooth and firm consistency.108 It is typically eaten by hand, using it to scoop up stew or soup.[50]109

Education

• The University of Juba was founded in 1975.[51]110
• Upper Nile University in Juba111
• The Juba Public Peace Library was founded on 1 October 2019.[52][53]112 The library was donated by The South Sudan Library Foundation and contains over 13,000 books.113 It was the first public library of South Sudan.114 The South Sudan Library Foundation was co-founded by Yawusa Kintha and Kevin Lenahan.[53][54]115
• Kampala International University[55]116
• Catholic University of South Sudan117
• Episcopal University of South Sudan118
• Starford International University119
• Ayii University120

Health services

• Juba Teaching Hospital[56]121
• Juba Military Referral Hospital122
• Al Sabah Children's Hospital123
• Nyakurun PHCC[57]124
• Munuki PHCC125
• Gurei PHCC126

Places of worship

Places of worship in Juba primarily consists of Christian churches and temples: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Juba (Catholic Church), Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (Anglican Communion), Baptist Convention of South Sudan (Baptist World Alliance), Presbyterian Church in Sudan (World Communion of Reformed Churches).[58]127

Climate

Juba has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen: Aw),[59] and as it lies near the equator, temperatures are hot year-round.128 However, little rain falls from November to March, which is also the time of the year with the hottest maximum temperatures, reaching 100 °F in February.129 From April to October, more than 100 mm of rain falls per month.130 The annual total precipitation is nearly 1000 mm.131

Notable people

• Aheu Deng, beauty queen and fashion model132
• Bangs, rapper and YouTube personality133
• Mangok Mathiang (born 1992), Australian-Sudanese basketball player for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association134
• Emmanuel Jambo, photographer135
• Independent Moses Nunuh, first child born in South Sudan corpus after its independence.[62]136 Like many other children in South Sudan, he died before his first birthday.[63]137

See also

Equatoria

Eastern Equatoria

Central Equatoria

Western Equatoria

Gulu-Nimule Road

Juba Stadium

Lainya County

Railway stations in South Sudan

Anataban Campaign

Sources

• Richardson, J.N.138 (1933). "139 Bari Notes".140 Sudan Notes & Records.141
• Badiey, Naseem (2014). "142 The State of Post-conflict Reconstruction: Land, Urban Development and State Building in Juba, Southern Sudan".143 Boydell & Brewer Ltd.144
• Shuichiro, Nakao (2013). "145 A History from Below: Malakia in Juba, South Sudan, c. 1927-1954".146 The Journal of Sophia Asian Studies.147
• Okeny, Kenneth (1991). "148 The 1947 Juba Conference".149 Northeast African Studies.150
• Kindersley, Nicki (2019). "151 Rule of whose law?152 The geography of authority in Juba, South Sudan".153 The Journal of Modern African Studies.154 Cambridge University Press.155
• Rubin, Jonathan M. (2006). "156 Disaster Medicine".157 Elsevier.158
• Parsons, Ellen C. (1905). "159 Christus Liberator: An Outline Study of Africa".160 Macmillan Company.161
• Gong, Yidong (5 July 2022). "162 Non-suffering Work: China's Medical Interventions in South Sudan".163 The China Quarterly.164

External links

Fisher, J. 2005, 'Southern Sudan's Front-line Town', BBC News, 20 April 2005.

Holt, K. 2007, 'In pictures: Juba's Street Struggle', BBC News, 4 January 2007.

Sudan And Uganda Sign MoU To Develop Infrastructure

'Gulu-Juba rail link underway'

World's Newest Nation would Start Almost from Scratch – article & video by *McClatchy