Muslim inmates both male and female at Lira central government prison will have a reason to celebrate Ramadan especially after receiving assortment of donations from the Pakistani businessmen in Lira.
Under their umbrella body, Pakistani Association of Uganda (PAU) Lira, items worth shs3m was given to Lira inmates. It comprised of 60 litres of cooking oil, two boxes of soap, 300kgs of beans, two cartons of salt and 300kgs of maize flour and mats for prayers, among others.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Muslim lunar calendar. Healthy adult Muslims fast in Ramadan from dawn until dusk. This includes abstaining from drinking, eating, immoral acts and anger.
Other acts of worship such as prayer, reading the Quran and charity are also encouraged during the holy month.
Muslims also believe the Quran was revealed in Ramadan.
During the holy month, Muslims wake up early to eat a pre-dawn meal called suhoor, and they break their fast with a meal referred to as Iftar.
It is common for Mosques to host large Iftars, especially for the poor and needy. Nightly prayers called Tarawih are also held in Mosques after Iftar.
Different cultures have different traditions during Ramadan, whether it is a special food they must cook, or eating Iftar with the extended family. Islamic tenets such as generosity inspires most of these traditions, including sharing food and inviting guests over for Iftar.
However, this year’s Ramadan will most certainly be a less festive time, amid the coronavirus pandemic as all nations, including Muslims are taking precautions to curb the spread of the virus by banning or limiting social gatherings, and closing Mosques.
Delivering the donations to the prison authorities on Friday, Mr Sardaar Muhammad Ateeq Nawaz who’s the president of Pakistani Association Uganda in charge Lira, said: “It is always our practice to help our Muslim brothers who are inside the prison because of their issues but still, they’re our brothers, they are fasting with us so we have to take care of them.”
Ateeq who commended the prison authorities for always allowing them to donate to inmates every year, said Pakistan Association would always support the needy community in Lango sub-region.
About two weeks ago, PAU Lira also donated food items to the COVID-19 district task force of Lira who are prepared to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic.