Uganda Airlines will be operating its inaugural flight for the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca on the Monday, June 19,2023,departing at 10:00 am EAT.
According to a statement released by the airline, the operation of this pilgrimage flight is a milestone for the national carrier, being the first Ugandan carrier in over 40 years to perform this holy operation. It is also a momentous occasion for pilgrims who will be performing this holy journey using their national carrier.
“This year, a total of 500 Muslims from across Uganda will be transported by Uganda Airlines aboard the Airbus A330, with the first flight from Entebbe to Jeddah. The official flag-off ceremony will be held at Entebbe Airport, officiated by the Minister of Works and Transport, Muslim Leaders, Diplomats, and other State officials,” reads the statement in part.
Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, alongside Shahadah(Oath to Allah & Muhammad PBUH), Salat(prayer), Zakat(almsgiving) and Sawm(Ramadan fasting).
Hajj, the 5thpillar, 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 fulfilment.
The return flights will be operated from Medina to Entebbe in July 2023.
Uganda Airlines, was revived to replace the former Uganda Airlines that operated from 1977 to 2001. It resumed operations in August 2019. The airline currently serves a range of destinations, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilimanjaro, Dar-es-Salaam, Zanzibar, Mogadishu, Bujumbura, and Juba, among others.