Qibla · Western Region
Qibla direction in Kasese
To face the Kaaba in Kasese, turn to 23.5° measured clockwise from true north, which is north-east (23.5° east of north). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 2,588 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Kasese should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Kasese as a needle at 23.5°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 24°. A traditional magnetic compass also works, provided you allow for the local difference between magnetic and true north.
Find the Qibla with your phone
How to face the Qibla in Kasese
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards north and move a further 23.5° towards east: the result is the bearing of 23.5°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at north would leave you about 24° off.
The scholars distinguish two cases: the one who sees the Kaaba aims at the building itself, while the one who cannot see it, as anywhere in Kasese, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of a local mosque is a quick way to confirm the result. If you travel or move house, check the angle again, since it changes from place to place.
Why a flat map shows a different direction
On a flat (Mercator) map, the straight line from Kasese to Mecca points to 24.1°, only 0.6° away from the true Qibla. Here the two methods practically agree, so a map gives a usable first idea, although the 23.5° bearing remains the exact one.
The value of 23.5° is the direction in which the shortest route from 0.1833° N, 30.0833° E sets off towards the Kaaba at 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. Every accurate Qibla calculator, and the plans of well-oriented mosques, arrive at the same angle for this point.
Distance from Kasese to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 2,588 km from Kasese as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 2,889 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 3 h 33 min, although most pilgrims from Kasese connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Kasese run the same time as Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Kasese rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Kasese
On 186 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Kasese while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in May (31 days); for example, on 1 April 2027 it happens at 12:56 local time.
On 179 days the sun stands exactly opposite the Qibla: then the shadow of any vertical object, a pole, a door frame or a plumb line, points straight towards Mecca. This is most frequent in January (31 days), for instance on 1 January 2027 at 13:46.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | 13:46 |
| 15 January 2027 | — | 13:48 |
| 1 February 2027 | — | 13:44 |
| 15 February 2027 | — | 13:37 |
| 1 March 2027 | — | 13:26 |
| 15 March 2027 | — | 13:13 |
| 1 April 2027 | 12:56 | — |
| 15 April 2027 | 12:43 | — |
| 1 May 2027 | 12:30 | — |
| 15 May 2027 | 12:22 | — |
| 1 June 2027 | 12:17 | — |
| 15 June 2027 | 12:17 | — |
| 1 July 2027 | 12:21 | — |
| 15 July 2027 | 12:26 | — |
| 1 August 2027 | 12:34 | — |
| 15 August 2027 | 12:40 | — |
| 1 September 2027 | 12:46 | — |
| 15 September 2027 | 12:50 | — |
| 1 October 2027 | — | 12:55 |
| 15 October 2027 | — | 13:01 |
| 1 November 2027 | — | 13:09 |
| 15 November 2027 | — | 13:18 |
| 1 December 2027 | — | 13:29 |
| 15 December 2027 | — | 13:38 |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Kasese: at 12:18 and 12:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Kasese compared with other cities
Compared with Kampala, 278 km away, the Qibla in Kasese is turned 5.4° further clockwise (23.5° against 18.1°), and Mecca is 113 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Ibanda (58 km), prays towards 22.3°, a difference of 1.2°.
Among the 16 cities in Uganda on this site, Kasese has the largest Qibla bearing; the smallest is 14.8° in Mbale. Across the country the direction varies by 8.7°.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Uganda.
Qibla in cities near Kasese
Qibla in Kasese: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Kasese?
It is 23.5° from true north, which is north-east: 23.5° east of north.
How far is Kasese from Mecca?
2,588 km in a straight line over the globe, and 2,889 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Kasese?
On 186 days of 2027 the sun stands in the Qibla direction; the table on this page gives the exact time for the 1st and 15th of each month.
Is the Qibla the same everywhere in Uganda?
No. It ranges from 14.8° to 23.5° across the country, so each city has its own bearing.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 23.5° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.