📷 PICTORIAL: Eid al-adha celebrations around Uganda

KAMPALA - Eid al-Adha prayers across the country kicked off Friday in high gear as the Muslim faithful celebrated the "Festival of the Sacrifice" (Eid al-Adha).

The feast (Eid al-Adha) is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year and considered the holier of the two.

Muslims celebrate it (Idd al-Adha) to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his only son Ismail as a form of obedience to God. 

Eid al-Adha enjoys special significance because the Day of Sacrifice marks the climax of Hajj or Pilgrimage, the fifth pillar of Islam.

This annual pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah in Saudi Arabia is an obligation only for those men and women who are physically able to perform it once in their lifetime.

As Muslims celebrated the feast all over Uganda from different Mosques, Vision Group multimedia journalists were on ground, and below is how prayers were observed;

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At Kibuli Main Mosque in Kampala, the Supreme Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Galabuzi, thanked the Almighty Allah who has protected Ugandans from last year to date. He indicated globally that there are a lot of challenges facing the Islamic region.

"Islam is a peaceful religion, it is a religion of peace," he emphasised, condemning acts of unlawful evictions of people from the land with massive destruction without consideration, writes Nelson Kiva, and all pictures by Colleb Mugume.

"We urge judges to be fair to the poor because you will account before Allah," Supreme Muft Sheikh Shaban Galabuzi said.

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At Gaddafi National Mosque, Old Kampala in Kampala, the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, asked Muslims to remain peaceful, speak less, and devote more time to working for the betterment of their well-being. 

According to Mubajje, the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) is constructing a five-storied apartment to help them generate income for the activities of Muslims, and the Muslims Martyrs Day will be celebrated on June 10.

Mubajje also asked Muslims to go in big numbers and register to get new national identity cards, writes and all photos by Eddie Ssejjoba;

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'Let's have peaceful polls'

At Kibuli in Kampala, Prince Kassim Nakibinge said the forthcoming general elections early next year should be incident-free. Urging peace, he said the sort of electoral chaos witnessed in the Kawempe North by-elections to replace the late area MP, Muhammad Ssegirinya, should not be seen again in the 2026 elections.

Nakibinge made the remarks during an Eid-al-Adha luncheon he hosted at his residence. Children were among the guests.

Wilfred Sanya captured the moments:

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In Mbale City, Mbale district, Eid al-Adha prayers were held at Nakaloke Playground, where the faithful and several political office hopefuls contributed towards the construction of a multimillion Nakaloke Muslim Mosque at Nakaloke Playground. Paul Watala captured in moments.

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At Nakivubo Blue Primary School in Kampala, Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Kamoga, the leader of the Tabliq Muslim sect in Uganda, led the Friday prayers, urging the faithful to embrace a saving culture from their works so as to develop themselves, and always afford a sacrifice during Eid al-Adha feasts. Written and captured by Alfred Ochwo

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In Busia district, the District Khadi, Jamil Juma Obanjo led the Eid Al-Adha prayers at Madibira primary school ground, commending the district (Busia) and government for employing Muslims.

Obanjo consequently appealed to educated Muslims to use the prevailing goodwill and apply for jobs, saying the poor attitude towards employing Muslims had changed and commended President Yoweri Museveni's government for fighting discrimination. Egessa Hajusu writes and captured the pictures

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In Jinja district, Sheikh Dr. Hussein Bowa, the Assistant Mufti in charge of Busoga Muslim sub-region, led Eid-Al-Adha prayers at Mvule Crescent Muslim ground in Jinja City. Dr. Iddi Menhya, a lecturer at Istanbul University with Turkey-based Muslims, among others, graced the event. Donald Kiirya covered the event

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In Fort Portal City, Tooro Regional Khadi, Sheikh Ghalib Talib Hussein, called on Muslims to rise above internal divisions and work together for the unity and development of Islam in Uganda. 

In his message to the faithful at Fort Portal Main Mosque, Sheikh Hussein described the recent controversies surrounding the re-election of the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, as embarrassing to the Muslim Community. Jonan Tusingwire writes, captured the photos

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In Luwero district, Luwero-Rwenzori Triangle state minister (Office of the Prime Minister) Alice Kaboyo was in attendance for the feast prayers at Kasana Mosque, calling for unity among the faithful. Credit Frederick Kiwanuka

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In Hoima district, Muslims in Bunyoro sub-region were asked to ensure that they nurture their children very well so that they become responsible people within the communities they live in.

Sheikh Sufian Baguma, who preached during Friday prayers at Bwiilya Mosque in Hoima City made that call, asserting it was men's responsibility to ensure they take good care of their families. Wilson Asiimwe was on ground

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In Yumbe district, hundreds of Muslims were left disappointed in the morning after missing the Idd Adhuha congregational prayers due to an earlier-than-expected start.
The main prayer ground in the district witnessed an unusual scene as the Imam started the prayers promptly at 8:30am, catching many worshippers off guard. Reports Adam Gule

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In Iganga, the (Iganga) district khadi Sheikh Sinani Muwanika cautioned youth against being used by politicians to engage in election-related violence. Muwanika said those involved risk being arrested and prosecuted before courts of law. Credit: Moses Bikala

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Meanwhile, prior to Kiburi prayers, Prince Kassim Nakibinge, the Titular head of all Muslims in Uganda, urged the government to offer security in the forthcoming elections so that more Ugandans participate in the forthcoming general elections, thereby enjoying their Constitutional rights.

Nakibinge said incidents like what happened in the Kawempe North by-elections should not have happened in today's modern politics. Writes Wilfred Sanya