In a circular dated September 2, 2026, and signed by Sheikh Ssali Imran Abdunoor, the UMSC Department of Religious Affairs directed all regional assistants to the Mufti, district Qadhis, county sheikhs and Imams to mobilise Muslims for Salatul-Istisqa, a special prayer seeking Allah’s mercy and rainfall.
The prayer is scheduled for Friday, September 4 at 1:40 pm in all mosques across Uganda. The council urged Muslims to turn to Allah through repentance, supplication, charity and good deeds, while praying for beneficial rainfall. The religious appeal comes as the latest government weather outlook indicates that the country is experiencing a delayed start to the September-December rainfall season.
According to the Department of Meteorological Services, most parts of Uganda are expected to receive near-normal to above-normal rainfall during the September-December 2026 season, although temperatures are expected to remain warmer than average.
The forecast, issued on September 1, says a dry phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation is likely to suppress rainfall during the first one to two weeks of September. More consistent rains are expected to become established from mid-to-late September in many areas, with rainfall peaking between October and November.
In eastern Kyoga, including Kumi, Serere and Soroti, intermittent rains are expected to continue until mid-to-late September before steady rains set in and peak around late October to November. The rains could extend into January 2027. The Meteorological Services has also warned that the season could bring heavy rainfall and associated flooding, particularly because of the influence of an emerging El Niño episode-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
