Ugandan Muslims applaud Saudi King for Umrah visas

A group of Ugandan Muslims who were sponsored by Saudi Arabia king Salman bin Abdul-Aziz al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to perform umrah this year have applauded him for making their dream a reality.
These included Friday Call’s Farooq Kasule who was selected because of his impactful stories concerning the Islamic faith in Uganda.
Others are Yumbe district chairperson Abdulmutalib Asiku, Mbarara district commissioner Aminah Nanziri Lukanga, Sheikh Dr Swaib Semuwemba, Asha Aate Mbabazi Amin, Abdullah Uthuman Kitimbo (police officer), Shaidat Zaituni Nassaku – news anchor at Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), Shafik Kabazzi and Sheikh Muzamir.
Kasule not only expressed gratitude to King Salman and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman but also explained that when he received a call, he never believed until he received a visa from the Saudi Arabia embassy in Kampala.
“I am extremely grateful because honestly going to Makkah this year for umrah is something I had never contemplated,” Kasule said.
Kasule explained that around December last year, a lady from the Saudi Arabia embassy in Kampala contacted him and she requested him to forward his Curriculum Vitae (CV) but he was a bit skeptical because of the emerging fraud related schemes globally.
“After receiving a host of calls from the lady, I forwarded my CV and it was around January this year when Sheikh Hamza Koire from the embassy called me again instructing me to send a scanned copy of my passport which I did. I was later availed with a visa for the spiritual journey to Makkah,” Kasule explained.

Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah, the holiest city in Islam. It can be undertaken at any time of the year in contrast to the Ḥajj which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar.
Prophet Muhammad performed Umrah four times. Thus, Umrah is not only highly encouraged to those with the means but also an important journey for Muslims in their path to Allah.
Umrah helps Muslims to purify their souls, renew their faith and strengthen their connection to God.
Sharing from experience, Kasule explained that it is very important for every Muslim to visit Saudi Arabia to acquaint themselves with the history of the Islamic faith to strengthen their belief.
“Visiting Saudi Arabia has strengthened me spiritually because I have personally experienced everything. For example, I visited the cave where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation, among other historical sites. Therefore, I thank the Saudi Arabia embassy in Kampala for forwarding my name to Saudi Arabia for consideration,” Kasule said.
Every year, King Salman through the Saudi’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Dawa sponsors over 1,000 influential Muslims and scholars across the globe for Umrah.