Shia Muslims to celebrate Eid on Saturday

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The leader of the Shia Muslim community in Uganda, Hajji Omar Bongo Muwaya, has announced that the Shia faithful will celebrate Eid on Saturday.

Bongo, who is the director of the Alhul Bait Islamic Foundation in Uganda (ABIFU), said the community will continue observing the fast until Saturday, when they will officially mark Eid.

"We have not been able to confirm the sighting of the moon, which determines the end of the fasting period. Therefore, we will continue fasting and celebrate Eid on Saturday,” Bongo said.

Speaking at Alhul Bait Islamic Foundation in Uganda headquarters at Buyemba village in Bukatube sub-county, Mayuge district, on Friday, he revealed that consultations were made with counterparts in several countries, including Iran, Rwanda, Kenya and Burundi, all of whom confirmed that the moon had not been sighted.

Bongo attributed the delayed sighting partly to unfavourable weather conditions, saying persistent rainfall and cloud cover made it difficult to clearly observe the moon.

Shiekh Abdul Majidu Ali Oburu, the Imam of Markaz Mosque at the Shia headquarters, said that the decision to continue fasting was in line with Islamic teachings.

“It is proper for Muslims to continue fasting when the moon has not been sighted. They have done the right thing,” Oburu said. 

Bongo said that although initial reports from two sources indicated that the moon had been sighted, the claims were later withdrawn after verification.