President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has once again demonstrated his commitment to the Muslim community in Uganda by sponsoring more Muslims for Umrah.
Twenty Muslims were flagged off today by the Senior Presidential Advisor In-charge of Political Mobilization, Mr. Moses Byaruhanga, at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) headquarters in Kampala.
This brings the total number of sponsored Muslims to 70, following the 50 beneficiaries who were flagged off in July 2025.
Umrah is a sacred journey that holds immense significance in the hearts of all Muslims.
It offers 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,” he said. “When we talked to H.E the President, he gave us a go ahead to run the initiative and what I did was to appoint Hajjat Namayanja as my advisor on Muslim Affairs.”
He further expressed happiness that the selection process was transparent and beneficiaries were drawn from all regions of Uganda.
“I’m happy that the selection is transparent and beneficiaries are drawn from all regions of Uganda,” he said.
Byaruhanga tasked the Mecca-bound Muslims to pray that Uganda remains peaceful even after the 2026 general elections.
“Be our good Ambassadors during the pilgrimage,” he said.
Additionally, he 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 economically.
“Many are saying that some government poverty alleviation programs like the PDM have interests [riba] which contravene Islamic teachings,” he said. “So, President Museveni decided to empower you through SACCOs.”
The President has accepted to inject Shs 100 million in each of the two SACCOs in each district.
One SACCO is for Imams and another one is for the female Muslim scholars.
Byaruhanga also explained why some Hajj beneficiaries had to miss out on this year’s pilgrimage.
“Each country has its quota, and Uganda was given 2,000 slots,” he revealed. “If people exceed the allocated quota, it means the exceeding number has to miss.”
The Senior Presidential Assistant in charge of Monitoring the Parish Development Model program, Hajjat Mariam Namayanja, asked the pilgrims to seek forgiveness and make sincere prayers.
“We ask Allah to enable us to go and do Umrah and accept it,” she said. “Umrah is not about visas or money but it’s about God.”
She cautioned Muslims against putting fellow believers down, citing an incident where some people tried to talk ill about the coordinators of the initiative.
“When some Muslims missed out last time, some people went on social media and said that the money had been swindled,” she said. “But God doesn’t take bribes, here we are.”
She thanked UMSC for the cooperation with State House in ensuring the program is a success.
The UMSC Secretary General, Hadji Abbas Sekyanzi Muluubya, thanked President Museveni for the support towards Muslims in Uganda.
“The beneficiaries are selected from each region of Uganda which means the list is of national character,” he said. “We thank H.E the President for giving an opportunity to Muslims in Uganda in totality.”
He also thanked the State House for managing the program without any issues.
“We have not heard of any issues,” he said. “We have not had problems with the State House; they have been very cooperative.”
