The historic visit by His Majesty King Faisal bin Abdul Azizi Al-Saud to Uganda in 1972 was a turning point in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two states.

Saudi Arabia assistance to Uganda cannot be quantified because, even during the period between 1979-1998 when the embassy was closed, Saudi based NGO's operated in Uganda and offered valuable services to the people of Uganda.

Uganda is yet to benefit from the Kingdom with the construction of a magnificent Multi billion hotel. A Saudi Arabian Prince Al-Waleed signed an agreement with the government of Uganda to construct multibillion hotel in Kampala.

Government handed over 15.1 acre land of Shimon Demonstration school and teachers' college to the Saudi investor for the project. Initially the investors plan was to construct the hotel in preparation for the 2007 Common Wealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The delay in the works has been attributed to the relocation of the 3,400 pupils of one of the largest Universal Primary School in Kampala, to which the investor trading under Kingdom Hotel Investment was to meet the costs of relocating the pupils.

The Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) executive director Maggie Kigozi recently said that since the project would not be for ready CHOGM, it is not meant for the tourism industry and construction works for the hotel are expected to start in next year.

Faithfuls performing Hijja

Another prominent significant Saudi funded project in Uganda is the US $ 6M King Fahd plaza, a commercial complex named after the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU).

The donation from King Fahd is meant to enable IUIU sustain itself, meet particular costs and fulfill its goals of training man power for Uganda and other African countries.

The land on which the plaza was constructed was also a donation from President Museveni and was officially opened in 2003. The plaza has a Saudi cultural centre with a fully-fledged library with modern literature on Islam and Saudi Arabia. The center is aimed at availing information and increasing knowledge on Islam.

In another project the Saudi Arabian government signed a $4.6M agreement with Uganda's ministry of energy for the extension of a power line from Tororo to Malaba (144.7km) of 132 KV.

Saudi Arabia has extended funding for building schools, institutes and mosques. It has provided equipments, drugs and medical items to hospitals and health centers particularly to Kibuli Muslim hospital.

A modern brand new T Scan equipment valued at $24,876 was extended to Kibuli Hospital in an effort to improve services provided to the people of Uganda.

Some of the Saudi aid helped schools in Uganda include Bilal and Bugembe Islamic Institutes at Kakiri and Jinja respectively.

The latest grant of $350,000 from the Kingdom was extended to Sseke senior secondary school in Masaka and Kibuli Primary Teachers college In the education sector the Kingdom annually offers 15-20 scholarships through the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, to Ugandans students to join various universities of Saudi Arabia such as the Madina Islamic University, Ummul Qura, King Fahd University for petroleum and Riyadh University among others.

The Kingdom has not been concerned about Muslim projects alone; it has opened orphanage centers in northern Uganda to cater for the needs of those who lost their parents during the war.

On the humanitarian side, the government of Saudi Arabia has extended support worth $100,000 in form of resettlement package to former rebels who had applied for amnesty through the Amnesty Commission. The package included blankets, hoes, and seeds among others.

Two million Muslims perform Hajj annually Each year, 2 million Muslims world wide perform Hajj or Pilgrimage to Makkah, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and where the Qur'an was first revealed to him.

Many Ugandans totaling up to about 700 pilgrims perform Hajj to Makka annually through different Hajj agencies. This years Hajj is to be performed in December 2006 and those intending to perform this year have started registering with the numerous agencies.

Hajj is required of all believers once in their lifetimes provided they are physically, mentally and financially able. Hajj is an obligation to God from those who are able to the journey, performed during the month of Dhu al-Hijja, the last month of the Muslim calendar.

Although many religions have pilgrimages, the Hajj is virtually unique in its worldwide participation and sheer size. It is hard for anyone who has not been in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the Hajj to appreciate its full scope.

The unprecedented increase in the numbers of pilgrims has greatly increased the complexity of Hajj administration.

Another logistical problem is how to dispose of the remains of the thousands of sheep annually sacrificed.

To meet administrative needs, the Saudi government has established a combination of public services and government has regulated private administration of Hajj services.

The vast financial and human resources Saudi Arabia has committed to the Hajj reflect the dedication of the leadership and citizens of the Kingdom to the service of Islam and the holy sites and to preserving them as a haven of peace for all Muslims.