The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) has appealed to government to help curb elements of fraud within the pilgrimage companies.
While addressing the media at Old Kampala mosque, UMSC secretary general Ramathan Mugalu revealed that there has been a tendency by some companies to extort money and defraud pilgrims seeking to travel to Mecca to perform hajj. Now, Mugalu says some potential pilgrims are fearing to lose their money to fraudsters.
Each year millions of Muslims across the globe travel to Mecca to perform hajj which takes place from the 8th to the 12th of Dhual-Hijja and marks this marks the holiest and final month in the Islamic calendar.
As one of the five pillars if Islam, it’s obligatory for both men and women to go for hijja as long as they are financially able to do so. Sex, smoking, swearing and disagreements are things prohibited during the pilgrimage. This journey must be done at least once in a lifetime.
Meanwhile, Mugalu also said several Muslims are languishing in police cells on trumped up charges such as murder, robbery and theft. He called upon the general public and the entire Muslim community to live in peace and unity for the betterment of the country.
Dr Abdulkadir Balonde chairman of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council congratulated all the hajj’s and hajjat’s who successfully completed their pilgrims and further added that these people are truly exemplary.