The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has given a public warning as many Ugandan Muslims get ready to travel to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage. This year’s Hajj will take place from May 19 to May 29, 2025.
In a message shared on Monday, UCAA said there will be a lot of people at Entebbe International Airport. This is because many Muslims are going for the annual Hajj trip, and they are often joined by friends and family who come to wish them well. This could make the airport very crowded.
UCAA has asked all passengers travelling during this time to arrive early so they don’t miss their flights. They reminded travelers to be at the airport at least three hours before their flight. Most international airlines stop checking in passengers one hour before the plane leaves.
To help things go smoothly, UCAA has created a special place in the airport car park. Pilgrims will gather there and get information about their journey. Only vehicles with special airport stickers will be allowed into this area. Friends and family who are not travelling will be sent to a different waiting area to avoid overcrowding.
These steps have been put in place to make sure the airport runs smoothly and all passengers are processed without delay. UCAA thanked everyone for their support and understanding.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is very important to Muslims around the world. Every year, millions of Muslims travel to Mecca to take part. This year, over 1,600 Ugandan pilgrims are expected to make the journey. This number has been growing steadily, with 1,300 Ugandans attending in 2023 and 1,600 in 2024.
