The beginning of the month of Ramadan is this Tuesday, April 13 in Uganda. Social distances and restrictions related to Covid-19 must be respected in mosques. Believers are preparing for the celebration without a large gathering especially at the Kibuli Mosque.
as reported from Kampala, Lucie Mouillaud
Inside the prayer room, Elias Yacine, the assistant to the imam’s mosque, inspects the stickers on the carpet to respect social distancing.
“All believers must respect a distance of two meters between prayer rugs and, of course, everyone must wear a mask,” he says.
The mosque can only receive one hundred believers against three hundred before the pandemic. And this year, Ramadan night prayers will be limited by the 21:00 curfew.
“Restrictions pose problems for gatherings after fasting. Normally, after the dissolution, the prayers take two hours, but we have to limit it to only one hour due to the curfew. Everyone must be able to return in time after prayer, says Sheikh Mutyaba Abdul Salamu, imam of the Kibuli Mosque.
Frustrating limitations for believers
After a Ramadan limited to 2020, the restrictions remain frustrating for believers installed in front of the mosque, such as Husseina Ali: “Last year was not like a real Ramadan, and it is very disappointing for us not to be able to pray together for the second year in a row, not for to be able to give us advice and give us energy together ”.
But despite the restrictions on gatherings, it is still most important for Imam Kibuli to maintain Ramadan’s goals.
Ramadan is a month of blessing. Solidarity remains. On the first day, some donate so that the poorest can last throughout the month. So we will not be affected by the restrictions because Ramadan is still a blessing, “he added.
Although the mosque has adapted to the restrictions, all believers hope to return to normal as soon as possible.
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