The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) has released a travel advisory aimed at Muslim pilgrims traveling to Mecca and Medina for the Hajj pilgrimage. The advisory warns pilgrims to anticipate delays in departure from Entebbe International Airport.
Officials from the authority have estimated that over 1,600 pilgrims will be embarking on the journey to Mecca, a significant increase from the previous year’s count of 1,300. This surge in pilgrim numbers is expected to cause congestion and delays at the airport.
Mr. Vianne Luggya, the public affairs and communication manager at the CAA, elaborated on the measures put in place to manage the situation. A specific area in the general car parking has been designated as a gathering point for pilgrims. Here, they will receive briefings before boarding their flights.
Furthermore, the CAA, in collaboration with the Uganda Bureau of Hajj Affairs (UBHA), will distribute stickers to pilgrims. Only vehicles displaying these stickers will be permitted to advance beyond designated points on the airport road, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion.
The scheduled travel dates for pilgrims span from June 1st to 7th, with individuals traveling from various regions across the country to Entebbe Airport for departure to Mecca.
In addition to advising pilgrims to expect delays, airport management has urged departing passengers to allocate extra time for their journey to avoid missing their flights. This precautionary measure is necessary due to the anticipated increase in passenger volume during this period.
Various airlines, including Ethiopian Airlines, Fly Dubai, Emirates, and Uganda Airlines, are expected to facilitate the transportation of pilgrims to their destination.
Entebbe International Airport recorded a total of 164,705 international passengers in April 2024, averaging approximately 5,313 passengers per day.
