Uganda pilgrims safe
Feb 03, 2004
ALL Ugandan pilgrims in Mecca are safe, the secretary-general of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC,) Edris Kasenene, said yesterday.
By Mariam Nalunkuuma
ALL Ugandan pilgrims in Mecca are safe, the secretary-general of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC,) Edris Kasenene, said yesterday.
“We have not received any death reports from our agents in Saudi Arabia. Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje has said there were no Ugandan casualities,†Kasenene said.
Mubajje led the pilgrims to Mecca last month.
A total of 244 pilgrims were on Sunday morning trampled to death during a ritual stoning of a pillar representing the devil.
Kasenene said the pilgrims would return home this week.
The first lot of pilgrims is expected tomorrow.
“Our agents have reported minor illnesses like flu and malaria among the pilgrims which have been treated,†said the secretary-general at Muzaata Hijja office, Badru Kakembo.
Sulaiman Kakeeto, the Tabliq leader, said reports from Saudi Arabia indicated that many of the dead were from Nigeria and India.
“But if you die in such a religious practice, it’s the best death. However, we should not attribute the deaths to poor preparations by the Government of Saudi Arabia,†Kakeeto said.
Ends
ALL Ugandan pilgrims in Mecca are safe, the secretary-general of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC,) Edris Kasenene, said yesterday.
“We have not received any death reports from our agents in Saudi Arabia. Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje has said there were no Ugandan casualities,†Kasenene said.
Mubajje led the pilgrims to Mecca last month.
A total of 244 pilgrims were on Sunday morning trampled to death during a ritual stoning of a pillar representing the devil.
Kasenene said the pilgrims would return home this week.
The first lot of pilgrims is expected tomorrow.
“Our agents have reported minor illnesses like flu and malaria among the pilgrims which have been treated,†said the secretary-general at Muzaata Hijja office, Badru Kakembo.
Sulaiman Kakeeto, the Tabliq leader, said reports from Saudi Arabia indicated that many of the dead were from Nigeria and India.
“But if you die in such a religious practice, it’s the best death. However, we should not attribute the deaths to poor preparations by the Government of Saudi Arabia,†Kakeeto said.
Ends