More than 425 families in Rwanda received fresh meat donations to celebrate Eid al-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifice) after outdoor congregational prayers. The day was marked by the traditional Qurbani (animal sacrifice) to commemorate the obedience of Prophet Ibrahim, alongside festive gatherings with family, friends, and the less fortunate.
With support from Zakat Foundation of America in partnership with Abdullah Kiromba Foundation (AKF), the donations were distributed on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, following prayers across three different districts: Kamonyi, Gatsibo, and Kigali.
This initiative by the two foundations under their seasonal humanitarian relief campaign. The program provides fresh meat packages to thousands of low-income, vulnerable families across Rwanda during the Eid al-Adha festivities.
In Gatoki and Simbwa, located within Kabarore, around 165 families walked away smiling with joy after receiving their packages. In Kigali, the beneficiary families exceeded 120, while in Kamonyi District, the distribution took place in Muganza, a historic and geographical sector in the Southern Province.
Over 1,250 kilograms of fresh packaged meat was distributed. To ensure no one was left out of the celebrations, AKF volunteers delivered some meat packages directly to the doorsteps of the most vulnerable residents. This included the elderly, the sick, and people living with disabilities who were unable to travel to the distribution sites after morning prayers.
Ndahayo Abdul Karim, the Vice Imam of Gatoki Mosque, explained that it was a blessed Eid day. “Everyone was happy. We held our open-air ground prayers in huge congregations, and the believers received the traditional Qurbani,” he said. “This practice ensures that families, relatives, and the vulnerable all receive a package. May Allah grant the foundations and their descendants blessings on the Day of Judgment, Insha’Allah.”
“For us as Muslims, this day means a lot. It signifies absolute devotion, obedience to Allah, and ultimate, selfless charity. It honors Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah’s command, before Allah provided a ram in his place. It is not merely ritualistic; it is an act of pure solidarity,” Abdul Karim explained. He noted that this spirit of sacrifice is precisely why their volunteers dedicated themselves to reaching individuals in various cells who could not physically make it to the main distribution grounds.
Dressed in her holiday best, nine-year-old Joicy Mukamuganga couldn’t hide her excitement. As the third of four children raised by a single mother in Kabeza, Gatsibo, she joined her mom to collect fresh meat packages for a special Eid celebration at home. “Today is a big day for all Muslims across the world,” Joicy said. “We can’t wait to feast and enjoy the day.”
In Kigali, thousands of worshippers attended open-air congregational prayers at the Kigali Pelé Stadium. In his address, the Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Musa Sindayigaya, explained that Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, one of the most spiritually significant periods in the Islamic calendar.
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“These are the first ten days of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, based on moon sightings,” the Mufti said. “They carry great value, as mentioned in the Qur’an. This is a day in which believers draw closer to Allah through acts of worship and compassion.”
To guarantee that all meat donations were fresh, safe, and entirely disease-free, professional veterinary doctors conducted rigorous antemortem inspections on the cattle at the abattoir before any slaughtering took place.
The essential seasonal relief packages were donated by the Abdullah Kiromba Foundation in partnership with the Zakat Foundation of America.
