880 fly to Mecca for Haj

Dec 19, 2006

A TOTAL of 885 Ugandan Muslims have gone for Haj in Saudi Arabia.

A TOTAL of 885 Muslims have gone for Haj in Saudi Arabia, reports Madinah Tebajjukira.

The consular section head of the Saudi Embassy, Ahmed Almowalled, yesterday said, “By Friday last week, we had issued 885 visas, but we expect the number to rise to about 900 this week.”
The director of Firdaws Tours and Travel, Ahmad Lubega, said going to Mecca and Medina is a one-life fulfilment of the five pillars of Islam.

Firdaws Tours and Travel is one of the firms which make Haj arrangements for pilgrims.

Each pilgrim paid between $1,850 (about sh3.3m) and $2,000 (sh3.6m) for the journey compared to last year’s $1,630 (about sh3m). The fares caters for a return ticket, accommodation, medication, meals and other expenses.

Lubega attributed the fees hike to the increase in accommodation charges in Saudi Arabia.

“Some of the nearby estates, where many hotels used to be located, were demolished by the Saudi authorities. This was after the collapse of one of the hotels which killed pilgrims last year. This has greatly complicated the whole system of accommodation,” he said
At least 2.5 million people convene in Mecca for the Haj every year.

Some of the activities done in Medina include stoning the devil, sacrificing animals and going around the Kabah.

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