ZURAH NAKABUGO
With a few days to the holy month of Ramadan, a senior cleric has called Ugandan Muslims to pray for the country against the spread of homosexuality acts in the country. Muslims are expected to start fasting in Ramadan on Thursday, March 23.
“All Muslims are requested to use the opportunity of Ramadan and pray to Allah to save us from acts of homosexuality,” Sheikh Haidari Kizza, vice chairman of Hear Uganda, a humanitarian organization, said on March 16.
Homosexuality, which has dominated headlines in the country in recent months, is forbidden in Islamic teachings.
Kizza was speaking at event in one of the Kampala City suburbs where his organization donated food rations to the poor and needy Muslims as they prepare the fasting period. He said the organization will donate 3, 800 food packages worth Shs 380 million to people throughout the country during Ramadan.
Meanwhile, other Muslim leaders who included the deputy Supreme Mufti Sheikh Ibrahim Ntanda Muzanganda, Hajji Ashiraf Zziwa, the spokesperson of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and Sheikh Yasir Kulumba, the Secretary for Religious Affairs at Kibuli Mosque, all reiterated the call to resist homosexuality.
This year’s 29 or 30-day fasting period will end with Eid al-Fitr either on April 21 or 22, depending on the sighting of the moon.