Uganda Unveils Statue Honoring Israeli Commando Yoni Netanyahu, Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Uganda officially inaugurated a statue commemorating Lieutenant Colonel Yoni Netanyahu, commander of the Israeli elite Sayeret Matkal unit, who was killed during the 1976 Entebbe rescue operation. The ceremony took place at the old terminal of Entebbe Airport, the site of the daring hostage rescue mission on July 4, 1976. The event was attended by senior Ugandan military and government officials.

The Ugandan Chief of Staff, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, led the ceremony, highlighting the statue as a symbol of historic reconciliation and growing security and diplomatic cooperation between Uganda and Israel. He praised Netanyahu’s leadership and sacrifice as emblematic of courage and commitment, emphasizing that the monument preserves memory, teaches history, and inspires future generations.

General Kainerugaba also honored the memory of the four hostages killed during the operation and acknowledged Ugandan soldiers who died, clarifying that the regime they served, led by Idi Amin, was a brutal dictatorship not representative of the Ugandan people. He described modern Uganda as a constitutional democracy committed to international cooperation, peaceful coexistence, and constructive global engagement.

The general stressed that Uganda-Israel friendship extends beyond the 1976 events, rooted in mutual respect and practical collaboration. Both nations aim to deepen cooperation in security, innovation, and development to jointly confront terrorism and violent extremism.

Representing the Israeli delegation, Barak Orland thanked General Kainerugaba for choosing the historic site for the statue, calling it a symbol of two countries standing shoulder to shoulder for future generations. He quoted President Museveni, who described the fallen as forging a lasting bond between the "Holy Land" and the "Pearl of Africa." The ceremony also included Uganda’s Air Force commander, civil aviation officials, tourism representatives, and other government and military dignitaries.