Gadaffi Mosque
Gadaffi Mosque is Uganda’s National Mosque located at Old Kampala Hill in the Old Kampala area of Kampala, Uganda. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi of Libya commissioned the mosque as a gift to Uganda, and for the benefit of the Muslim population. The mosque was completed in 2006 and it seats up to about 15,000 worshipers and can hold another 1,100 in the gallery, while the terrace will cater for another 3,500. Uganda has many mosques but this one is a skyscraper mosque to thrill while on Uganda safaris Tours.
When the construction of the mosque was complete, it was opened officially in June 2007 under the name Gaddafi National Mosque, and housed the head offices of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council. It was renamed “Uganda National Mosque” in 2013 following the death of Colonel Gaddafi as the new Libyan administration was “reluctant to rehabilitate the mosque under the old name.
The Gadaffi mosque is the headquarters of the Islamic faith in Uganda and also doubles as the headquarters of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council the organization which takes care of all Islamic affairs in Uganda. It’s a two storied building and the mosque is on the upper floor while the offices are on the ground floor. Constructing of the mosque started in 1972 after the formation of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council by the Government of Uganda. It was then called the Old Kampala National Mosque. Construction came to a standstill in 1976 and it wasn’t until 2001 when the Mufti of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, approached the President of the state of Libya Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, asking him for assistance to complete the construction of the Mosque which Gaddafi did. (A mufti is the head of the Muslim community. According to the Islamic dictionary, he is described as a person who presents laws of the scholars to people who ask for them. The word Mufti is derived from the word “fatwa” or opinion and it means ‘one who gives fatwas/opinions’.)
The Gaddafi Mosque, sits on 12 acres of land merging as one of the biggest Mosque in Africa with the tallest Muezzin from where Muslims call their fellow religious affiliation for prayers. The mosque was built in a contemporary vibrant form with a beautiful element of interior art and has been designed focused on Western, Arab and African contact cultures. The mosque serves as one of Kampala City’s distinctive tourist destinations. It is open to all visitors, irrespective of once perspective, political allegiances, cultural identity, ethnicity, colour among others. During any of your safari tours around Kampala city, do not miss pay a visit to the Gaddafi Mosque it’s one of best places with a magical experience.
There is a high number of visitors received at the Gaddafi mosque every year from different countries, background, religions among others to explore the beautiful interior and minaret of the Mosque. The fact that it was commissioned as a gift to Muslim fraternity in Uganda, visitors have the interest to visit this place and prove if what is written about the mosque truly defined the structure its self. Visitors who come to the Mosque, will asked first to go to the front desk to pay for the entrance fees before accessing the mosque. You will then be provided with professional guide who knows everything containing the mosque and will take you around. Women visitors will be advised to ware loose-fitting clothes covering your waits and the ankles and veils for veiling their heads in case you do not have one, you will be provided and thereafter return it back. For the men, they will ware log sleeved shirts and trousers. The guide will take you around the mosque where you will be able to view the beautiful art and architectural design in the main hall which will offer you great scenic views of the seven hills in Kampala city.
The best time to visit the Gaddafi Mosque
The Gaddafi Mosque is open to visitors throughout the year, meaning that the beautiful Gaddafi Mosque can be visited any time and any day throughout the year. But the most appropriate time to visit is during the dry season when there is little or no rain fall in Kampala because it will require one to walk around on foot in order to explore the depth of the Gaddafi mosque. The dry season is from the month of June, July, August, December, January and February, these months are recorded to be having light drizzles or no rainfall received at all.
