Kampala — UGANDANS yesterday had a lifetime opportunity to view the longest annular eclipse of the sun this millennium. In many parts of the country traders, office workers and farmers abandoned their business to view the rare spectacle.

After a bright sunrise, the light started to dim at 7.06 am as the moon started to glide into the sun's way. By about 8.30am in Kampala the sun was visible only as a ring of fire around the obstructing moon, which most people referred to as a fight between the two heavenly bodies. By this time the light was so dim that it looked like dusk was setting in.

In many parts of Kampala people used film strips, blackened glasses, sun glasses and pinhole cameras to watch the phenomenon. There was no chaos or stampede in the city, but a number of drivers parked their vehicles in order to view the eclipse. In taxi parks and markets, all eyes were in the sky. It was not until about 10:00am that the sun regained full brightness as the moon left its way completely.

In Iganga famers who had gone to their gardens early abandoned their hoes to stare at the bizzare semi-circular appearance of the sun as it rose in the East. "The sun and moon are fighting each other and usually when the moon wins there is partial darkness all over the land," remarked James Waiswa, a peasant from Iwawu village. Those in the know hurried to assure others that though it was a peculiar occurrence, eclipses occur once in a while.

Margaret Ngoja, a resident of Ntinda village said she had never seen such a sight before. Long after the end of the early morning incident locals were still discussing it as some associated it to strange expectations of the New Year. Some feared it might be a sign that something bad might happen this year.

The eclipse started in central Africa at dawn and then moved east through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Somalia. It crossed the Indian Ocean. The central path then continued into Asia through Bangladesh, India, Burma and China.