Minister of Works and Transport, Katumba Wamala officially flagged off Muslim Pilgrims to Mecca today
The Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, has described Uganda Airlines flight to Mecca in 40 years as a big landmark, saying the direct flights will benefit the Muslim Community.
“The Muslim Community should be happy because it will be a lot easier for anybody to make a pilgrimage to Mecca,” Katumba said.
He made the remarks at a flag-off ceremony held at Entebbe Airport on Monday that saw about 200 Muslims from across Uganda transported by Uganda Airlines aboard the Airbus A330, from Entebbe to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The second flight is expected tomorrow and will have 250 passengers/Muslims onboard.
Katumba was accompanied by the 3rd Prime Minister, Lukia Isanga Nakadama, Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Uganda, Uganda’s Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Uganda Muslim Council representatives, among other officials.
The Minister noted that in the past, Ugandan Muslim pilgrims have been going through transit routes like Khartoum and Ethiopia on their way to Mecca, but with Uganda Airlines, they’ll have direct flights to Mecca, thus reducing on the cost.
“Some of the Pilgrims are elderly and the (English) language maybe a problem, but on the flight they can be able to communicate in the local languages because our attendants can speak the local languages. When the plane lands in Jeddah and the people coming off are our pilgrims, that pride can’t be taken for granted; the passport reads Uganda and the Airline reads Uganda. It is a national pride,” Katumba said.
Minister Katumba addressing the press
He urged Ugandans to love, embrace and support Uganda Airlines, noting that praising foreign made things should stop because they also started from scratch.
“Uganda Airlines will get to the level of other global Airlines. Traveling by other Airlines while bashing our own airline isn’t a patriotic act. This is your airline run by your (taxpayers) money. People working in this airline are Ugandans, your brothers and sisters. All the employees in the airline’s self-handling project are Ugandans,” he said, urging Ugandans to own up the national carrier.
He appealed to the pilgrims to pray for Uganda to be more peaceful.
Lukia Nakadama, the 3rd Prime Minister, congratulated Uganda Airlines for taking the first group of pilgrims to Mecca, saying the first time travelers especially the elderly will enjoy the flying experience because they will be treated well by Uganda Airlines cabin crew. She also urged Ugandans to support Uganda Airlines because most of the food items and drinks served onboard locally produced.
Flights to Jeddah in-offing
Jennifer Bamuturaki, the Chief Executive Officer at Uganda Airlines, said the carrier’s operator’s permit (to Saudi Arabia) will run up to July.
“The first flight had 200 passengers. Tomorrow, we shall be taking another 250 Pilgrims,” Bamuturaki said, adding that some people had a challenge of getting Visas on time.
She revealed that the national carrier plans to have scheduled flights to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in September 2023.
“We will be flying to Jeddah three times a week,” she said, adding: “We already have a sales organization set up in Saudi. We have a general sales agent that is representing us in Jeddah, so we are doing everything towards the launch of flights.”
Deo Nyanzi, the Manager-Sales & Marketing at Uganda Airlines, the national carrier is responding to the needs of passengers.
“As a national carrier, we have an obligation to service the travel needs of Ugandans; if you’re a business person or someone who want to travel for leisure, we’ll serve you,” he said, adding: “For the pilgrims, they will not wave the Ugandan flag to know the country they’re coming from, the arrival of Uganda Airlines aircraft will be enough.”
Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, alongside Shahadah (Oath to Allah & Muhammad PBUH), Salat (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving) and Sawm (Ramadanfasting). Hajj, the 5th pillar, is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Saudi Arabia) that every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able must make at least once in their lifetime. It is one of the most significant religious journeys for Muslims worldwide, gathering millions of Muslims from all over the World in Mecca and Medina to perform holy rituals and seek spiritual fulfillment.
