Gaddafi National Mosque needs Sh8.5b facelift

The Parliament’s Budget Committee has  learned that the total renovation works at Gaddafi National Mosque is valued at Sh8.5b!

Of the amount, Sh2.7b has already been spent, and the Ministry of Gender is seeking for additional Sh4.7b to continue with the works this year; the balance of Sh1.5b would be availed in the next financial year.

The Minister for Gender, Hon Betty Amongi yesterday told Parliament that she is seeking for a supplementary budget of Sh2b to renovate the biggest Mosque in East Africa.

Recently,  court issued an order putting up the property for sale in order to facilitate the recovery of Sh19b loan the Muslim leadership had procured from a businessman, Justus Kyahabwa.

It is not clear if the renovation works which are ongoing will go on with the court order in place.

The Libyan President Colonel Muammar Gaddafi funded the construction of the gingatic Mosque as a gift to Uganda in general and the Uganda Muslim community in particular.

The construction started in 2006 and he commissioned the Mosque in 2007.

The Mosque seats up to about 15,000 worshipers and can hold another 1,100 in the gallery, while the terrace caters for another 3,500.