On March 24, 2025, the Muslim community in Rulindo District, Northern Rwanda, sent a formal request to the district mayor, seeking permission to hold Eid al-Fitr prayers at open-air venues after Ramadan.
The community proposed five locations—Mahaza, Bugaragara, Rutonde, Mugambazi, and Gasiza—for the prayers, which they stated would not take long. “We request permission to use these locations for Eid prayers, as they are open spaces and the prayers will be brief,” the letter read.
However, on March 27, 2025, Rulindo District Mayor Mukanyirigira Judith responded, informing district Imam Sheikh Gasigwa Sulaiman that the requested venues would not be approved. “No mosque in the district meets government requirements for such gatherings,” the mayor wrote.
As a result, there will be no Eid prayers held in Rulindo on Sunday, March 30, 2025. “We are disappointed by the decision,” said a member of the local Muslim community, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We were hopeful that the mayor would support our request, as Eid is an important occasion for us.”
The decision has raised concerns about religious freedoms and the use of public spaces for religious observances in the district. Local Muslim leaders are now exploring alternative options, though no solution has been announced yet.
