After 40 years, Uganda Airlines returns to Saudi Arabia 

On Monday, June 19, 2023, Uganda Airlines took to the skies, headed for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The trip to Jeddah marks the end of a 40-year spell when Uganda’s national carrier last made a direct flight to Saudi Arabia. Aboard the plane were 200 Ugandan pilgrims who will be performing their hajj in Mecca. Speaking during the flag-off held at Entebbe International Airport, Gen Katumba Wamala, the minister of Works and Transport, said it is a landmark opportunity.

“The Muslim community should be happy that everybody will be able to perform the hajj. It opens the doors for our Muslims to make trips to Saudi Arabia without the inconveniences that come with connecting flights. These would make the flight even longer, yet most people on these flights are always elderly. The trip has now been reduced to three-and-a-half hours between Uganda and Jeddah.”

Katumba also commended the pilgrims for choosing to fly with Uganda Airlines.

“It brings pride to our nation. We are sure that our people will feel gratified to enjoy their taxes.”

Sheikh Burhan Bagunduse, the founder of Masaka Nakyewa, said: “We are happy that we shall spend fewer hours to make hajj. Most of our colleagues have been travelling for long hours. We are very happy that we will pray for the president as we pray for our nation. We thank Uganda Airlines for the initiative.”

On his part, Sheikh Ali Waiswa, the deputy mufti of Uganda, said: “We are happy that we have taken several pilgrims to Mecca. Direct flights work to the advantage of both disabled and elderly pilgrims, most of whom are first-time travellers. I am glad that we have returned to the 1970s, when Ugandans used to have direct flights to Saudi Arabia. We hope that Uganda Airlines will establish deposit schemes for the underserved communities to make deposits towards the hajj”.

Jennifer Bamuturaki, the chief executive officer of Uganda Airlines, appreciated Hajj Bureau, the organizers of this year’s hajj in Uganda, for choosing to fly with Uganda Airlines.

“We are happy that we shall be taking about 450 Muslims to Jeddah. We had initially intended to take 500 pilgrims, but there were some delays in visa issuance,” she said.

“We are doing everything to launch flights to Jeddah because it presents both an economic and business opportunity, especially for our Muslim colleagues. Uganda Airlines will be flying to Jeddah three times a week, with effect from September 2023.”