By Seif Shaggy Gracien Hasingizwimana/ Kigali, Rwanda,
The number of people who registered to perform the holy pilgrimage to Mecca is 65, but on this day of 17/05/2026, those who managed to depart from Kigali International Airport in Kanombe are 62, as 3 others among them faced different challenges.
Sheikh Djamilu, who is in charge of organizing journeys for the pilgrims going to Mecca, says that all of them are being cared for in an extraordinary way, and that a good hotel has been prepared for them in Medina.
He said that all of them managed to get visas, because they obtained their travel documents 2 months ago.
Murangwa Djamilu says that the relationship between RMC and Saudi Arabia is good, because both countries enjoy good relations compared to other countries.
He said that the hotel where they will be accommodated up to where the pilgrimage will be performed is a 6-minute walk to Mecca, which is equivalent to 650 meters, and this is also written on the door of the room where they will sleep.
Sheikh Murangwa Djamilu says that where they will be accommodated, part of what they are entitled to is the preparation of meals in order to prevent them from going to look for them outside.
He said that those who went to perform the pilgrimage should not carry anything else, because this year became exceptional in organizing it well.
Anifa, one of the female pilgrims, says that this pilgrimage is very useful because, to her, it has made her happy, as it is an opportunity that is not available to everyone.
She said that she thanks the leadership of the country of Rwanda due to the security it gives us, and she also thanks the leadership of the Rwanda Muslims Association for helping us to organize our journey from when we left here in Rwanda until Saudi Arabia.
Hadji Yahaya Kayiranga, one of those who accompanied a pilgrim going to perform the pilgrimage, says that going to Mecca is for a person with financial capacity, but also not all people with financial capacity go to Mecca.
He said that it is a great support that God has called them for, and going to perform the pilgrimage is to celebrate that it is one of your family members who has gone to perform one of the 5 pillars that make up Islam.
Hadji Yahaya gave a message to the person he came to accompany, saying that they must behave well and put their heart into the activity that took them there.
He said that just like in studying, you study hard to get many marks, it is also how in God’s programs you must get very many marks, even more, because Hajj is vital in life.
He continues to say that when you perform the pilgrimage well, you become like a newborn child.
He said that we are not scared by the problem of insecurity which is in the Middle East, because where that war is taking place has nothing to do with the city of Mecca, and our country of Rwanda protects citizens, so if there were insecurity there, they would advise the Rwanda Muslims Association to stop journeys going there.
He said that the reason why the country released the journey of the male and female pilgrims who went to perform the holy pilgrimage is because they know well that they will not face any security problem there.
The Mufti of Rwanda, Sheikh Mussa Sindayigaya, asked those who want to be going to perform the holy pilgrimage to Mecca to always notify them early, because it is among the things that make them travel in a reliable and well-prepared way, where he gave an overview of the journey that those who went to perform the pilgrimage make.
He said that those who went to Mecca went in an updated way, the journey from here Kigali to Jeddah is 3 hours, and in returning it takes 4 hours, while when they went through Dubai it was 6 hours, and leaving there to reach Mecca was 12 hours, including also losing their luggage.
He said that, but those who are going to depart are not passed anywhere else, except immediately reaching Mecca direct, and they will conclude their pilgrimage in Medina.
He continued to say that the money required to go to Mecca is 7800 dollars, not including the Rwanda Muslims Association, so there is money that they added for them, because the price of petrol increased, making the leadership of Rwandair notify them early before the journey started, but they found that they could not request it again from everyone who registered, and he says also that they are planned to have a sacrifice performed for them.
The Mufti asked them to be characterized by love, and to have a good journey, and to consult one another where they will be, and he also advised them to obey those who led them in the journey, telling them that no one should wander off without notifying those they are together with, so that they do not worry about them, and he also wished them to return safely, and also wished those who accompanied them to also go to Mecca.
Those who went to perform the holy pilgrimage in this year of 2026 were prepared one airplane, and they were asked to do what took them there, because a pilgrim is a guest of Allah, and they were asked to make supplications for themselves, and also make supplications for those they left in their country that gave birth to them.
The leadership of the Rwanda Muslims Association says that the pilgrims who departed Kigali are 62, among them made up of 28 women and 34 men.
In order to streamline the program and better receive services, the ladies are represented by Sheikhat Fridaus, on the side of men they are represented by Haruna Hategekimana, who is also a doctor who must care for those who might get light illness challenges, together with Murangwa Djamilu, who organizes the journey of those who go to perform the holy pilgrimage to Mecca.
It is expected that the number of those who went to Mecca who paid for themselves has an addition of 10 special pilgrims paid for by a sponsor, who are expected to depart at 1:00 AM, and they will travel to find the others there.
