UGANDA: SAUDI ARABIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OMAR AL-SAQQAF VISITS NEW ARMY MOSQUE NEAR KAMPALA.

Record ID: 189698

  • Title: UGANDA: SAUDI ARABIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OMAR AL-SAQQAF VISITS NEW ARMY MOSQUE NEAR KAMPALA.
  • Date: 29th July 1972
  • Summary: 1. LV Mr. Saqqaf out of car and greeted 0.11 2. SV PAN Mr. Saqqaf escorted towards barracks 0.26 3. GV PAN Barracks and mosque 0.38 4. GV PAN Soldiers sitting in shade 0.51 5. SV (L TO R) Sheikh Matovu, Mr. Saqqaf and Lieut.Col. Musa standing during prayers 0.58 6. SV Soldiers look on 1.02 7. SV Sheikh Matovu cuts tape and enters with Saqqaf and Musa 1.26 8. GV People entering mosque 1.41 Initials BB/2145 SH/BOB/BB/0010 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th August 1972 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KAMPALA
  • Country: Uganda
  • Reuters ID: LVA43NW67TVXWECA34LWUK6D5O2C
  • Story Text: The Saudi Arabian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Omar Al-Saqqaf, arrived in Uganda for a three-day official visit on Thursday (July 27)--and handed President Idi Amin a cheque for two million shillings (about GBP115,000 sterling).

    The gift, from King Faisal, is intended to finance the construction of an Islamic Centre in Kampala, the Uganda capital.

    Mr. Al-Saqqaf's visit comes just three weeks after President Amin returned home from a nine-country Arab tour which also took him to Saudi Arabia.

    The visits are an indication of strengthening relations between Uganda and Arab and Muslim countries--many of which have pledged to give Uganda financial and other aid.

    In talks with his uganda counterpart, Mr. Al-Saqqaf later discussed the international situation and in particular the threat posed by Zionism to African independence.

    On the second day of his visit, the Saudi Arabian minister attended the official opening of a new mosque at the headquarters of the Mechanised Battalion at Lubiri barracks near Kampala. The mosque, intended mainly for soldiers, is also open to other Muslims who wish to pray there. Officiating at the ceremony was the Chief Khadi of Uganda, His Eminence Sheikh Abbulazake Matovu.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register