Muslims brace for Ramadhan this week

KAMPALA - Muslims have been urged to look out for the crescent moon tomorrow (February 17, 2026) evening because if sighted, they will commence fasting the holy month of Ramadhan on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Dr Ziyad Lubanga and Dr Abdul-Hafiz Walusimbi, the director of sharia at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and the Office of the Supreme Mufti, respectively, said failure to sight the crescent moon on Tuesday will mean that fasting will begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

“I call upon all Muslims to look out for the crescent moon on Tuesday evening because if sighted this will mark the beginning of the fasting of the holy month of Ramadhan on Wednesday,” Walusimbi said.

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan is one of the five pillars of Islam. However, Muslims are required to start fasting only after the crescent moon has been sighted.

Muslim fasting lasts between 29 and 30 days, and during this period they are required to abstain from food, drinks and sexual intercourse for the married from dawn until sunset.
Walusimbi encouraged Muslims to strive to do good throughout the month to maximise the rewards out of it.

He also encouraged Muslims to always recite the Koran and support the needy for enormous benefits.

Fasting

Sheikh Hassan Mayambala, the Director Sabar Dawa Group of Uganda, says fasting not only requires one to abstain from food and drinks from dawn until sunset, but it also involves good deeds in all aspects of life.  

“Whoever thinks that fasting is only about abstaining from food and drinks is at a loss. I advise you (Muslims) to pray five times a day in addition to Taraweeh (night) prayer, support the poor and do good if you want to benefit from fasting the holy month of Ramadhan,” Mayambala says.

Mayambala contends that the purpose of fasting is not just avoiding food and drinks, but it is a moment for believers to devote themselves to God.  

“When you fast, let your ears, eyes, hair, skin and all your body parts too. Don’t let your fasting day be the same as non-fasting ones,” Mayambala advises.  

Apart from spiritual healing, Mayambala notes that fasting is also a form of social healing.

“God has made fasting compulsory so that the rich find the pain of hunger, so they have mercy upon the poor,” he argues.  

After prayer, the second obligatory duty which every Muslim is required to perform is fasting during the month of Ramadhan.

Citing Prophet Muhammad, the clerics said whoever fasts in the month of Ramadhan out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven. 

However, the sick, the elderly, the travelers and the expectant and breastfeeding mothers are exempted from fasting, although the sick and the expectant and breastfeeding mothers are required to fast upon recovery.