Masaka Muslims have joined the world to celebrate Eid ai-fitr, the feast that marks the end of Holy month of Ramadhan which has been marred by hard economic times.
On Sunday, dozens of Muslims thronged Mosques and playgrounds in the district for Ramadhan prayers while others stormed markets to buy food and meat to feast on Eid Day. However, while dozens went shopping at various markets and butchers in Masaka, scores failed to get what to eat due to lack of funds.
URN reporter found about 30 poor and sick Muslims stranded at Masaka Central Mosque and about 20 other disadvantaged Muslims at Nyendo mosque seeking food and financial help to facilitate their Eid al-fitr celebrations.
Thirty-eight-year old Muhammad Kakooza is among dozens of Muslims who have stormed Masaka central Mosque for financial help on Eid day. Kakooza says he is suffering from Tuberculosis and malaria.
He says he has not been able to fast during the holy month because he did not have money to buy food to break fasting. In addition, Kakooza says his sickness cannot allow him to fast although he wants to.
Kakooza says he decided to camp at Masaka central Mosque to get some money or food to enable him buy some food on Eid day because he has no other source of income.
Hamis Musoke, another disadvantaged Muslim has been surviving on some food and porridge provided at Masaka central Mosque. Musoke, however, says he sometimes missed fasting because he could not walk from Ssenyange village at night to go to central Mosque for early morning breakfast known in Islam as Daaku.
Sheikh Umar Sserunjogi, the Masaka Muslim leader, says dozens of disadvantaged Muslims have missed both Ramadhan and Eid celebrations because they don’t have what to eat.
Sserunjogi says although the Muslim leaders have been giving them some money and food donated by good Samaritans, they could not give to all of them.
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Sheikh Swaibu Ndugga, the rival Masaka Kadhi, has blamed poverty among Muslims on lack of Ministerial representations.
Sheikh Ndugga argues that the failure by President Yoweri Museveni to appoint at least five Muslims on his cabinet has left them without a voice to represent their issues during cabinet meetings.
