(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The current economic meltdown and unstable dollar rates have forced many Muslim pilgrims to postpone their trip to the holy cities of Makkah and Medina after failing to meet their travel expenses.
Although the Saudi authorities issued 900 visas to Ugandan pilgrims this year, only 866 including the city Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago have been cleared to perform this year’s annual Hajj (pilgrimage) rituals.
At least 1,500 Muslims had registered to visit the holy sites this year at various Hajj offices across the country.
“Many people have not been considered because they failed to clear their travel fares on time due to the current economic situation in the country,” Hajj Ahmed Lubega, the director of Fridaws Tours & Travel, the agency which manages visas for Muslims, said at the weekend.
Hajj Lubega said unlike last year where pilgrims paid Shs7.3 million as travel fares, this year each pilgrim parted with $3,600 (Shs10.2m). The expenses include a return ticket, accommodation, medication, meals and Saudi tax.
Mr. Mansoor Mutekanga, a resident of Namasuba, a city suburb, said he had cleared only half of the fare. “My plan was to perform Hajj this year but with the current financial hardships, I could not raise the money. It is very unfortunate but I pray to Allah to enable me fulfill my dream next year,” he said in an interview yesterday.
However, Hajj Lubega said the increment in the fares was also a result of hiked accommodation fees in Saudi Arabia and an additional $100 for meals.
“Some of the nearby estates where many hotels were located were demolished by the Saudi authorities in preparation to construct new magnificent ones. This has complicated the issue of accommodation,” he said. The current instabilities in the global economy, have driven the inflation to 28.3 per cent down from 21.8 per cent in August.
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