Gadaffi here
Mar 16, 2008
Libya’s leader and crusader for a single African government, Muammar Gadaffi, arrived in Uganda yesterday for a four-day official visit during which he will address the Afro-Arab Youth Conference and open the national mosque he constructed in Kampala.
By Barbara Among and Henry Mukasa
Libya’s leader and crusader for a single African government, Muammar Gadaffi, arrived in Uganda yesterday for a four-day official visit during which he will address the Afro-Arab Youth Conference and open the national mosque he constructed in Kampala.
Gadaffi’s plane landed at Entebbe airport at 2:30pm, two-and-a-half hours earlier than expected.
Gadaffi, in his trademark sunglasses and colourful African attire, arrived with four planes and more than 30 officials. His plane arrived last. He was accompanied by his famous female bodyguards, dressed in blue military fatigues.
Defence minister Crispus Kiyonga received him at the airport. He was later driven to State House Entebbe in a green limousine, bearing the Libyan emblem. His convoy stretched about one-and-a- half kilometers long.
President Yoweri Museveni welcomed him at State House Entebbe in a ceremony that included playing the national anthems of both countries by the UPDF band. He then inspected a guard of honour before proceeding to Kampala.
It is Gadaffi’s fourth visit to Uganda since Museveni assumed power in 1986.
The Libyan leader is scheduled to close the week-long Afro-Arab conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo today, a conference which he partly sponsored and which attracted over 2,000 delegates.
The Mufti of Uganda, Sheik Ramadhan Mubajje, who was at State House to receive the Libyan leader, said he was extremely grateful that Gadaffi had finally come to open the mosque.
Gadaffi had been expected to open the mosque last year but he cancelled the trip, reportedly over the leadership dispute among Uganda’s Muslims.
“We have been waiting for him for too long. Some people were saying he would not come. But he is here,†Mubajje told The New Vision.
“It is a great day in my life. It is a dream that has been accomplished for the Ugandan Muslims to open the Gadaffi National Mosque.â€
He revealed that the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council wants Gadaffi to sponsor the establishment of the Islamic university, to be jointly set up by the council and the World Islamic Call Society of Libya.
Mubajje further said they needed Gadaffi’s support to establish an Islamic television station and expand Old Kampala Hospital. “It is our prayer that he supports these projects,†Mubajje added.
The council’s chairman, Hassan Basajjabalaba, explained that Gadaffi would host the grand mauled at the Nakivubo Stadium because it had more space.
He denied speculations that some Muslim leaders were uncomfortable attending a ceremony at the national mosque due to the leadership wrangles.
See related story in our National news section
Libya’s leader and crusader for a single African government, Muammar Gadaffi, arrived in Uganda yesterday for a four-day official visit during which he will address the Afro-Arab Youth Conference and open the national mosque he constructed in Kampala.
Gadaffi’s plane landed at Entebbe airport at 2:30pm, two-and-a-half hours earlier than expected.
Gadaffi, in his trademark sunglasses and colourful African attire, arrived with four planes and more than 30 officials. His plane arrived last. He was accompanied by his famous female bodyguards, dressed in blue military fatigues.
Defence minister Crispus Kiyonga received him at the airport. He was later driven to State House Entebbe in a green limousine, bearing the Libyan emblem. His convoy stretched about one-and-a- half kilometers long.
President Yoweri Museveni welcomed him at State House Entebbe in a ceremony that included playing the national anthems of both countries by the UPDF band. He then inspected a guard of honour before proceeding to Kampala.
It is Gadaffi’s fourth visit to Uganda since Museveni assumed power in 1986.
The Libyan leader is scheduled to close the week-long Afro-Arab conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo today, a conference which he partly sponsored and which attracted over 2,000 delegates.
The Mufti of Uganda, Sheik Ramadhan Mubajje, who was at State House to receive the Libyan leader, said he was extremely grateful that Gadaffi had finally come to open the mosque.
Gadaffi had been expected to open the mosque last year but he cancelled the trip, reportedly over the leadership dispute among Uganda’s Muslims.
“We have been waiting for him for too long. Some people were saying he would not come. But he is here,†Mubajje told The New Vision.
“It is a great day in my life. It is a dream that has been accomplished for the Ugandan Muslims to open the Gadaffi National Mosque.â€
He revealed that the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council wants Gadaffi to sponsor the establishment of the Islamic university, to be jointly set up by the council and the World Islamic Call Society of Libya.
Mubajje further said they needed Gadaffi’s support to establish an Islamic television station and expand Old Kampala Hospital. “It is our prayer that he supports these projects,†Mubajje added.
The council’s chairman, Hassan Basajjabalaba, explained that Gadaffi would host the grand mauled at the Nakivubo Stadium because it had more space.
He denied speculations that some Muslim leaders were uncomfortable attending a ceremony at the national mosque due to the leadership wrangles.
See related story in our National news section