Wandegeya Mosque closed as COVID-19 cases surge

RELIGION|MUSLIMS|COVID-19

KAMPALA - Wandegeya Mosque in Kampala has been closed over COVID-19. Sheikh Ali Kizza Kasule said they closed the mosque following death of several Muslims due to COVID-19.

"We have decided to close the mosque due to the increased number of COVID-19 cases in the country and death of several Muslims. There will be no more communal prayers until further notice," he said.

Wandegeya Mosque is one of the oldest in the country, with a sitting capacity of over 800 people.

So far, over five mosques have been closed across the country.

Kasule has also advised the Muslims to pray from homes to avoid getting infected.

By Friday (December 25, 2020), Uganda had registered 33,563 positive COVID-19 cases with 238 deaths.

Medical experts have said the country is currently in stage four of the pandemic, which they claim could see more people dead.

Asked whether they have registered any case of COVID-19 deaths, Kasule said, "We have not confirmed any case, but we cannot wait for people to get infected for us to do the needful."

A survey conducted by New Vision at different mosques in Kampala revealed that many worshippers do not adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Ministry of health to mitigate the spread of the deadly pandemic.

Most mosques have temperature guns, but there is no strict observance of social distancing during prayers. 

Many worshippers do not carry prayer mats and were seen sharing jerrycans during ablution contrary to the regulations issued by the Government while reopening the mosques.

The development comes after Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) management closed several of its offices following the death of its national chairman, Dr Abdul-Kadir Balonde. He succumbed to COVID-19 last week.

Sheikh Imran Ssali, an Imam at Gadaffi National Mosque, lauded the management of Wandegeya Mosque for what he described as wise decision.

Ssali also attacked fellow clerics hiding behind the Quran to defy the COVID-19 guidelines, saying they are a danger to society.

"Prophet Muhammad encouraged us not to leave space among us during prayers, but there was no COVID-19 at the time he said that," the Imam said.

Ssali revealed that they are set to revise the number of worshippers allowed into the national mosques.

Mubajje threatens

The Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Ramadhan Mubajje, who was among the clerics that championed the reopening of the places of worship in the country, has since threatened to order the closure of all mosques that do not adhere to the COVID-19 standard operating procedures put in place to fight the pandemic.

‘Over 40 clerics dead' 

Supreme Mufti Sheikh Siliman Kasule Ndirangwa said the Muslim community has lost over 40 senior clerics since March this year.

Ndirangwa, however, did not confirm whether or not all the said clerics succumbed to COVID-19.