Uganda National Mosque Tour | Gaddafi Mosque Tour

The Uganda National Mosque is the largest Mosque in Uganda and East Africa, It is the third largest in Africa and the largest in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Mosque was built with a capacity of up to 15,000 worshipers in the main mosque while holding another 1,100 in the gallery and 3,500 on the terrace, although during Islamic festivities like Eid Prayers, it can accommodate up to 35,000 Worshippers.

It’s a two-storied building, with part of the mosque on the upper floor, while the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council offices are on the ground floor, and Daily prayers are performed in the Mosque gallery on the ground on the ground floor.

Uganda National Mosque

This Mosque was initiated by Uganda’s third president Idi Amin Dada back in 1972. So, when he (Idi Amin) took over power in 1971, he saw two well-established churches or cathedrals; the Oldest Roman Catholic church in Uganda St. Mary’s Cathedral locally known as The Rubaga Cathedral on Rubaga Hill, and the oldest Anglican church in East Africa St. Paul’s cathedral or the Namirembe cathedral on Namirembe Hill which inspired Idi Amin Dada to also build a well-established Mosque on one of the hills in Kampala. Amin allocated 12 acres of land on Kampala Hill to construct a very huge Mosque for the Muslim community in Uganda, such that; they can also be established like other religions.

In 1972, the construction commenced and went on for seven years, that is when he was overthrown and the construction stopped because the one who overthrew him (Dr. Apollo Milton Obote) was not a Muslim and with political rivalries could not fund the construction, and again Amin was using government money to establish a huge establishment which Obote saw as straining the economy of the country, then stalled the construction in 1979.

The construction came to a standstill for over 20 years. It was until 2001 when the former president of Libya, the late Col. Muammar Gaddafi visited Uganda and the Supreme Leader (H.E. Shk. Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje) used that chance to ask for assistance from the Libyan government to complete the work of Amin. And Muammar Gaddafi accepted the pledge.

When Gaddafi went back to Libya, he sent back engineers to Uganda to see the conditions of the Mosque. The Engineers found the mosque was very weak because it had spent many years without maintenance, with no construction taking place. The engineer’s proposal was to demolish the Mosque and then restart it all over. It was the only choice and the mosque was demolished, made new plans, and started construction in 2001.

The mosque was completed in 2006 and officially opened on the 13th, of March  2008 by the late Col. Muammar Gaddafi then for love and appreciation, the Muslim community decided to name it after Him hence  The Gaddafi Mosque.

Although in 2013, the name was changed to the Uganda National Mosque because it still needed funding from the Libyan government that proceeded since it was reluctant to fund the Mosque named after the fallen leader Gaddafi.

The Mosque has four names and these are, The Kampala Central Mosque, The Old Kampala Mosque, The Gaddafi Mosque, and The Uganda National Mosque. But the famous name is the Gaddafi Mosque.

The Gaddafi Mosque is an international mosque that welcomes everyone from every part of the world and when you want to tour around, you are given a ticket and a professional site guide from the Tourism Information Office at the Entrance of the Mosque to take you around and then learn all the history of the Mosque. After visiting the Mosque Gallery and Interior you proceed to the top of the minaret or tower to view the whole of Kampala City for the Best Views.

The minaret is 50.5m tall and these are 166ft and has 304 steps from the ground, but you’ll take 272 steps from the main entrance walking up using stairs with no lift. The ticket will be paid for from the tourist office near the Mosque’s main gate, the ticket for foreign Tourists is bought at 25,000sh and the locals at 10,000sh. Then you’re supposed to respect the norms and Culture of the Religion. You will be provided with Coverings or Hijab for the Ladies and a Tunic or Kansu for the men in Shorts. While on your Uganda Safari Tour and want to visit Kampala City or take a Religious Tour of the City or take one of our Kampala Cultural or Kampala religious Tour with our knowledgeable Guides who are looking forward to taking you around Kampala City’s Seven Hills enjoying Kampala’s Monuments and Religious sites and Temples, Local Markets, Museum, Craft Markets, Cultural sights as well as enjoying the Best Local Foods in the City giving you True History and reality on how people in Kampala leave and do their Daily Business as well as enjoying the Hustle and bustle of the City

Posteb By: Bruce Amp