Touring is not necessarily how far you can travel, but rather how adventurous and open-minded you are willing to get. Last week a friend and I decided to take a tour around Gaddafi National Mosque located on top of Old Kampala hill, a 5-10mins drive from Kampala’s CBD. Our tour was purely out of curiosity, love for adventure and the pursuit to reach new horizons.
At only UGX 10,000 for nationals and UGX 15,000 or USD 5 for foreigners you get to tour and take pictures around the mosque. You can actually have a mini photoshoot on this same budget. Disclaimer: This is at your own risk!
As a naturally curious person, I did a bit of research before our tour and got some vital information prior. Just to note, it’s always good to do some research before touring a place you haven’t been to. A friend had told us that, closing time for tourists was 5 pm which we later found out was untrue. The mosque is open from 2 pm – 7 pm from Monday to Monday.
On arrival, we were directed to a white tent where inquiries and reservations are made. Our tour guide was very kind and impressively knowledgeable about the site. He ushered us into the mosque with poise, kindly asking us to take off our shoes first.
As we made our way into the magnificent site, I got blown away by its beauty and as always, the child in me sprang out. I paced around like a little boy and lay down on the soft clean woolen carpets that felt really homely. The experience was indescribable.
The architecture of the Gaddafi National Mosque is of world-class quality, reminiscent of those ancient mosques in Arabia. The bespoke detail of the site right from the wall painting, to the tiniest detail such as doorknobs and carpets all scream elegance. The mosque was custom made with a modern-day Arabian touch to it. Almost everything was imported from and funded by the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. No wonder it’s one of the biggest mosques in East, Central and Sub-Saharan Africa with the capacity to occupy almost 35,000 people.
The mosque is open to everyone regardless of your religious affiliation, ethnic background, culture, nationality, political inclination and more. In fact, our tour guide intimated to us that it’s okay to attend Juma prayers as long as you observe Juma prayer norms.
So, let me tell you a secret about myself but let it be a secret, right! I have a crazy phobia for heights, my clever friends call it acrophobia. The trek up the tower generated those phobic feelings. I was a bit terrified but also excited, eager and intrigued. My knees felt weak.
The tower has two sightseeing points. The first point being for the faint of heart such as myself, and the second point suited for the brave souls that have no qualms watching from the sky.
I personally quivered at both points but somehow braved my way to the top. The mind-blowing picturesque view of Kampala City from the tower is enough to calm down all your fears. From that point, we could easily see all the city landmarks such as Owino market, Uptown Kololo, and Nakasero.
Please note
- Don’t travel on a hungry stomach, there are over 200 stairs to get to the top of the tower.
- Wear comfortable shoes.
- Don’t carry bulky accessories such as heavy power banks in your pockets
- Remember to be open-minded so that you enjoy the experience.
- Don’t shy away from asking your tour guide about anything.
Let’s support local Tourism. Let’s tell our stories. Let’s love ourselves. Let’s conserve and protect the beauty we have here on the pearl of Africa.
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