Uganda National Mosque

Uganda National Mosque
Uganda National Mosque
مسجد أوغندة الوطني
	Aerial view of the Gaddafi mosque in Uganda
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Branch/tradition	Sunni Islam
Location
Location	Kampala, Uganda
	Location in Kampala
Administration	Uganda Muslim Supreme Council
Geographic coordinates	0°18′56″N 32°34′07″E / 0.315539°N 32.568591°E
Architecture
Type	Mosque
Date established	2008
Specifications
Capacity	12,200
Interior area	12 acres (4.9 ha)
Dome(s)	5
Minaret(s)	1
Minaret height	50.5 metres (166 ft)
Materials	Reinforced concrete

The Uganda National Mosque is a mosque located at Kampala Hill in the Old Kampala area of Kampala, Uganda. It is the largest mosque in East Africa^[1] in a country where, as of 2014, 13.7% of the population is Muslim.^[2] Completed in 2006, it accommodates up to 15,000 worshipers and can hold another 1,100 in the gallery, while the terrace will cater for another 3,500. former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi commissioned the mosque as a gift to Uganda, and for the benefit of the Muslim population. Uganda has many mosques but this one is a skyscraper mosque.^[3]

History

The construction of the mosque began in 1972 by Idi Amin and was initially called the Old Kampala National Mosque. Construction halted in 1976 during a period of heightened political instability, and in 1979,after Amin was deposed, it seemed like the mosque's fate had been sealed but in 2001, Gaddafi expressed willingness to help complete it as a gift to Islamic faith in Uganda.^[1]

The completed mosque was opened officially in June 2007 under the name Gaddafi National Mosque, and housed the head offices of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council.^[4] 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."^[5]

The mosque's minaret contains 272 stairs to reach the top.^[6]