President Museveni, through the State House, has sponsored another group of Ugandan Muslims to perform Umrah in Mecca.
A total of 20 Muslims were today flagged off at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) headquarters in Kampala by the Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Mobilization, Mr. Moses Byaruhanga. The group adds to the 50 beneficiaries who were sponsored in July 2025.
Umrah, often referred to as the “lesser” or “minor pilgrimage,” is a sacred act of worship involving travel to the holy city of Mecca to perform rituals at the revered Ka’aba, the focal point of Islamic faith. The pilgrimage is regarded as a deeply spiritual journey that renews faith and cleanses the soul.
Gratitude to the President
Addressing the pilgrims, Mr. Byaruhanga thanked President Museveni for his continued support to the Muslim community.
“We started this journey a long time ago. When we talked to H.E the President, he gave us the go-ahead to run the initiative, and I appointed Hajjat Namayanja as my advisor on Muslim Affairs,” he said.
He emphasized that the selection process is transparent and inclusive, with beneficiaries drawn from all regions of Uganda.
Mr. Byaruhanga also urged the pilgrims to pray for Uganda’s peace and stability, particularly beyond the 2026 general elections. “Be our good ambassadors during the pilgrimage,” he told them.
Reiterating the President’s commitment to empowering Muslim leaders, Mr. Byaruhanga announced that Imams and Alimats (female scholars), who often serve without salaries, will continue receiving economic support through SACCOs.
“Many Muslims say some government programs like the PDM have interests [riba] that contradict Islamic teachings. To address this, the President committed Shs 100 million for each of the two SACCOs in every district—one for Imams and another for female scholars,” he said.
On the issue of Hajj, he clarified why some beneficiaries missed this year’s pilgrimage: “Each country has its quota. Uganda received 2,000 slots. Anyone beyond that number has to miss.”
The Senior Presidential Assistant in charge of Monitoring the Parish Development Model program, Hajjat Mariam Namayanja, encouraged the pilgrims to focus on forgiveness, sincere prayer, and spiritual renewal during Umrah.
“Umrah is not about visas or money—it is about God,” she said. She also cautioned Muslims against spreading negativity, citing false claims of mismanagement during previous selections. “Those who missed out before are now going. God doesn’t take bribes.”
She further thanked the UMSC for cooperating with State House to make the initiative successful.
UMSC Secretary General, Hadji Abbas Sekyanzi Muluubya, expressed gratitude to President Museveni for supporting Muslims in Uganda through Umrah, Hajj, and other initiatives.
“The beneficiaries are selected from all regions of Uganda, giving the program a truly national character. We also thank State House for managing this program transparently and without issues. The cooperation has been excellent,” he said.
