Ugandan socialite and businesswoman Zari Hassan recently confirmed that she suffered a miscarriage earlier this year, specifically in May, during her first pregnancy with her husband, Shakib Cham Lutaaya. This heartfelt revelation came after weeks of intense online speculation fueled by photos that appeared to show Zari with a baby bump, which quickly went viral across social media platforms.

Zari, however, moved to clarify the situation, explaining that the circulating images were taken during a professional photoshoot. She expressed frustration with the baseless assumptions, stating, “People are silly. They see me on my Snapchat every day posting pictures of myself, and they know I’m not pregnant. Can I get pregnant in just two days? They should use common sense. I even put a hashtag showing I was on set, but they just ran with everything.” Despite dismissing the rumors surrounding the photos, Zari candidly admitted that she had indeed conceived earlier in the year but tragically lost the pregnancy at six weeks.

Both Zari and Shakib have openly discussed the profound pain of their loss, yet they remain optimistic about their future and their shared dream of starting a family together. Zari expressed her deep connection with Shakib, stating, “He is my person, and he understands me so much. He is my personal person and my go-to person. I get him the same way he gets me. Other men didn’t understand me like Shakib. God gave him to me as a gift.” She also affirmed her hope to try for another pregnancy soon.

Shakib Lutaaya later corroborated Zari’s account, confirming the miscarriage during a series of recent interviews. He described the loss as deeply painful and a subject he finds difficult to discuss publicly. Shakib clarified that while he was fully aware of the situation at the time, he chose not to make any public statement out of respect for his wife, who had already spoken openly. He prefers to handle personal matters with a degree of silence, deferring to Zari for any further details she might wish to share.

In addition to addressing the miscarriage, Shakib also shed light on another long-standing question from the public: why he does not follow Zari on Instagram. He confirmed that they have not followed each other for approximately a year. Shakib explained that his decision was a reaction to Zari’s initial action of unfollowing him, rather than a premeditated move, and that they have never had a formal discussion about the issue. The couple, whose age-gap relationship frequently garners public scrutiny and headlines across East Africa, continues to navigate both personal grief and their public image, offering rare glimpses into their unique challenges.

Zari is already a mother of five, with three children from her late ex-partner Ivan Semwanga and two with Tanzanian musician Diamond Platnumz. Shakib has also previously revealed that he has children from prior relationships. Despite their past experiences and current pain, the couple maintains a hopeful outlook for their future together.