Pilgrims lose $2.4m over Saudi travel ban

By Shamim Saad

Ugandan pilgrims to Mecca for this year’s Hajj are likely to lose over $2.4m (about sh6b) if the Government does not negotiate with the Saudi Arabian authorities.

The Saudi Arabian government declared on October 11 that Ugandan Muslims who had planned to travel to mecca would not go due to an earlier outbreak of Ebola fever in the country.

Sheikh Ibrahim Kiirya, the chairman of Uganda Hajj Mission, said they received information through the Saudi Arabian consulate in Kampala that all Ugandan pilgrims were not cleared due to the Ebola outbreak.

Before the refusal, 900 people had paid part of accommodation and airline fares last year during the month of Ramathan.

According to Kiirya, each pilgrim paid $1,300 (about sh3.3m) for accommodation which comes to $117,000 for 900 pilgrims. They also paid an average of $1400 (sh3.6m) for air tickets totaling to $1.3m. This is about $2.4m (about sh6.2b) in total. There were other costs incurred such as visa fees and internal transport.

“We have not received any communication from the Saudi Arabian government, but we plan to write a letter to the Ugandan government to talk to its counterparts in Saudi Arabia to consider the money for next year’s pilgrimage” he said.

Rukia Nakamatte, the public relations officer of the Ministry of Health, said they presented a report that declared Uganda free of Ebola to the Saudi Arabian government.

The epidemic broke out in Kibaale district in July but was controlled and the country was declared free of the Ebola last month.

The intending pilgrims, who should have left on October 11, had booked air tickets and made the necessary legal clearances for travel.

“Thirty-one Hajj and travel companies shall refund pilgrims’ money after deducting the money used for hotel bookings and air tickets. Whoever wants his money back will get it, but those who want to leave the money with us for next year’s pilgrimage will do so,” Kiirya