The Gaddafi Mosque in Uganda – Location and History

The Gaddafi Mosque is one of the major religious sites in Uganda. The state of the art Mosque is located in the heart of Kampala and was named after the late president of Libya, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. Gaddafi gifted the Islamic community of Uganda with this magnificent place of worship. The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council had initiated the construction of the mosque in 1972 and was at first named the Old Kampala National Mosque. By the way, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council is responsible for overseeing all the Islamic affairs, properties and institutions in the country.

In 1976, the construction of the mosque came to a sudden stop and stayed that way for a long time. Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubuye approached Colonel Muammar Gaddafi during his visit to Uganda in 2001 and requested for help with the completion of the mosque. Gaddafi accepted his request and construction works resumed in 2006. The mosque was built with a mixture of Arabic, European and African architecture. It was completed in 2007 and Gaddafi came back to Uganda to commission it. The Uganda Muslim community decided to honor Gaddafi by renaming the mosque after him.

Due to its architectural and religious significance, the Gaddafi Mosque was renamed the Uganda National Mosque. Uganda National Mosque became the headquarters of the Islamic community in Uganda and is where the Uganda Muslim supreme Council offices sit. The mosque stands tall on Kampala hill, which is one of the 7 hills major hills of the capital. This strategic location in the heart of the Kampala city allows it to be accessed from all directions hence making it one of the top attractions in Kampala city. In addition, its elevated location and sky scraper-like minaret allows it to be seen from all corners of the city.

Gaddafi Mosque in Uganda – Location, Entrance Fees and Opening Hours

The Gaddafi Mosque is the largest mosque in East Africa and second in Africa after Morocco’s king Hassan mosque located in Casablanca. The Gaddafi mosque sits on almost 10 acres of land. It is a double storied building with the ground floor containing a number of offices such as the front desk office, the office of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council and the office of the Uganda Mufti among others. The upper section of the building is the actual prayer hall. Within the Uganda National Mosque premises is a standard conference hall, a university college, a library and a radio station.

The Gaddafi Mosque has the capacity to accommodate up to 200,000 worshipers. 15,000 people can be accommodated at the main prayer hall, 3,500 people at the terrace, 1,100 people at the gallery and the rest at the large gardens. Tourists visit the Gaddafi Mosque all year round to observe the artistry, architecture and embroidery. Some go to the mosque because it provides one of the best views of Kampala city. On a typical visit, tourists are led around the facility by a friendly Guide who share more information about the history of the mosque. A visit is incomplete without climbing up the minaret. This prayer tower is where the Muezzin calls worshipers for prayers. From the minaret, you can get a clear view of Kampala city.

The Gaddafi Mosque is always open for prayers on Fridays and special occasions like on Iddi or for weddings. The mosque is open to tourist every day.

The Entrance fee for the Gaddafi mosque in Uganda is 7 US Dollars or 25,000 Uganda Shillings for international tourists. Nationals pay 10,000 Uganda shillings. Students pay between 1,000 to 5,000 Shillings depending on whether they are in primary, secondary or University level.

The Uganda National Mosque is open to everyone regardless of cultural, religious or political background. While at the Uganda National Mosque premises, visitors are required to dress appropriately to honor the place of worship. Women are required to dress up in clothes that are loose and cover all parts of the body. Women must wear a veil while at the Uganda National Mosque. In case a female visitor does not have a veil, they can get one at the front office for free. It must be returned to the office before leaving the mosque. Men are also required to dress decently.  They must put on trousers and shirts that cover the full arms. All visitors will be required to leave their foot wear outside the entrance of the mosque to show respect to the holy ground.

In a nutshell, the Gaddafi mosque is an excellent place to visit even though they now call it the Uganda National Mosque. You can visit the mosque if you wish to attend prayers, get beautiful views of Kampala or if you are curious about the Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. The mosque can be visited at any time of the year and by anyone ready to follow the rules set at the site. Accommodation for visitors can be found in form of hotels and cottages from within the city center.