Share this article

Uganda Airlines is set to operate its first trip to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual Muslim pilgrimage known as Hajj. This marks a significant milestone for the country’s flag carrier after a 40-year hiatus. The inaugural flight will transport 500 Muslim pilgrims from various regions of Uganda on an Airbus A330, departing from Entebbe and landing in Jeddah.

For the yearly Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Uganda Airlines will operate its first trip.

Uganda Airlines hails the flight as a significant milestone for the country’s flag carrier for the first time in 40 years as well as a crucial time for pilgrims as they begin their holy pilgrimage.

500 Muslim pilgrims from various sections of Uganda are expected to travel on Uganda Airlines’ Airbus A330. The inaugural aircraft will leave from Entebbe and land in Jeddah, an important port on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia and the starting point for pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina.

Hajj, one of Islam’s Five Pillars, refers to the larger Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. All adult Muslims are expected to perform it during the final month of the Islamic year, providing they have the financial resources to do so, as it is seen as a religious duty.

According to the press statement, “The official flag-off ceremony will be held at Entebbe Airport officiated by the Minister of Works and Transport, Muslim leaders, foreign diplomats, and other government officials. The return flight will be operated from Medina to Entebbe.”

In 2023, a return flight is planned from Medina to Entebbe. In August 2019, Uganda Airlines, the resurrected version of the defunct Uganda Airlines that ran from 1977 to 2001, started up again.

Currently, the airline travels to several locations, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilimanjaro, Dar-es-Salaam, Zanzibar, Mogadishu, Bujumbura, and Juba.