NYAGATARE - Muslims in Nyagatare District on Sunday held their second day Ramadan prayers in a new mosque. 

The $35,000 (Rwf15m) mosque that was commissioned by the Mufti of Rwanda, Sheik Saleh Harerimana, was constructed by the Turkish muslims community known as ‘IHAHA.’ It has a sitting capacity of 120 people. 

Sheik Harerimana called on the Moslem   community in the district to use the month of Ramadan as a period of continued efforts to develop the nation and cement the government’s unity and reconciliation drives. 

He also urged them to work hard and save in order to be able to help the needy members of the community, which is one of the pillars of Islam. 

"This year’s Ramadan message is to work hard and embrace a culture of savings. These two points are essential since they will help Muslims to get out of recession and promote education…it will also enable us  to ensure that even those poor and needy people are accorded some reasonable level of support ,” he said. 

"We need to work hard and inspire others on how peaceful co-existence and mutual relation ships between religions in Rwanda can be undertaken,” said the Mufti. 

During the function, the district affirmed its support to Muslims’ initiatives by providing modern maize seeds that will be cultivated in three hectors of land they were allotted.  

The Mufti urged Muslims to take advantage of the district support to initiate  farming projects as soon as the next season begins. He promised Rwf250, 000 towards a project of such a nature.

Sheik Harerimana added that through ‘IHAHA’ a primary school and a health centre will soon be constructed to boost the health and education sectors in the district. 

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