By Madinah Tebajjukira
and Charles Ariko

THE Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) national mosque at Old Kampala was finally opened on Friday, a year after construction was completed.

“I have fulfilled my promise I made on June 01, 2006. Even if I die now, I die a clean man without any debt,” said the Mufti, Sheik Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, during the ceremony.

Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi funded the cosntruction of the mosque.
Thousands of Muslims turned up for the maiden prayers to mark the opening of the grand mosque.

Security was tight and Police used metal detectors to check every person as long queues started forming as early as 8:00am.

Egyptian, Algerian, and Sudanese ambassadors, the Rwandan Mufti, MPs, delegates from Kenya, Zanzibar and third deputy premier Alhaji Ali Kirunda Kiveijinja attended the ceremony.

Dr. Ahmed Sharif, who presided over the opening of the mosque, whose construction had stalled since the late 1970s due to political and religious wrangles, said Gadaffi was disappointed by the fresh wrangles within the Muslim community.

He said Gadaffi would officially open what he claimed was the largest mosque in sub-Saharan Africa.

He expressed Libya’s commitment to help African Muslims develop so as to attain respect and dignity.

All the speakers praised President Yoweri Museveni and Gadaffi for the wonderful gift to the Muslims.

Kivejinja said the completion of the national mosque was of one the core issues in Museveni’s 10-point programme.