Museveni sponsors more Muslims for Umrah

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President Yoweri Museveni has sponsored another 20 Muslims for Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims in Saudi Arabia.

The beneficiaries were selected from all regions of the country, according to management at Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC).

The new group was flagged off earlier Friday, August 22, by the Senior Presidential Advisor in charge of Political Mobilisation, Moses Byaruhanga, during an event at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) headquarters in Kampala.

Dignitaries at the event included Hajjat Mariam Namayanja, the Senior Presidential Assistant in charge of Monitoring the Parish Development Model program and the UMSC Secretary General, Haj Abbas Sekyanzi Muluubya.

Last month, the President sponsored a group of 50 for the same pilgrimage. 

Umrah is a sacred journey that holds immense significance to Muslims who consider it a unique opportunity to refresh one’s faith and cleanse one’s soul.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Byaruhanga expressed gratitude to President Museveni for the offer to the Muslim faithful.

“We started this journey a long time ago. When we talked to the President about the need, he gave us a go-ahead to run the initiative. I then appointed Hajjat Namayanja as my advisor on Muslim Affairs. I'm happy that the selection is transparent and beneficiaries are drawn from all regions of Uganda," he added

A release from the Presidential Press Unit stated that Byaruhanga, who asked the pilgrims to pray that Uganda remains peaceful even after the 2026 general elections, reiterated the President's commitment to support Imams and Alimats through SACCOs.

He said, since they don't receive salaries and are supposed to stay near their respective mosques, the President found it prudent to empower them for economic development.

“Many are saying that some government poverty alleviation programs like the PDM have interests [riba] which contravene Islamic teachings. So, President Museveni decided to empower you through SACCOs,” he said.

The President agreed to inject sh100 million in each of the two SACCOs in each district. One SACCO for Imams and another one for the female Muslim scholars,” he said.

In brief remarks, Hajjat Namayanja thanked UMSC for the cooperation with State House in ensuring the program is a success.

Hajj Muluubya, UMSC’s Secretary General, thanked President Museveni for the support towards Muslims in Uganda through various programs like Umrah and Hajj.

“We also thank the State House for managing this program. We have not heard of any issues. We have not had problems with the State House; they have been very cooperative.”