Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has officially unveiled a memorial dedicated to Lt. Col. Yonatan "Yoni" Netanyahu at the Old Entebbe Airport Terminal, commemorating one of the most iconic military operations in modern history while reaffirming Uganda's close diplomatic and historical ties with Israel.
The memorial stands at the site closely associated with the July 1976 hostage rescue operation at Entebbe, during which Israeli commandos rescued more than 100 hostages held by hijackers. Yoni Netanyahu, commander of the elite Sayeret Matkal unit and elder brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was the only Israeli soldier killed during the mission. The operation was later renamed Operation Yonatan in his honor.
The unveiling follows Gen. Muhoozi's announcement earlier this year that Uganda would erect a monument at Entebbe in memory of Netanyahu as a gesture of friendship between the two nations. At the time, he described the project as a symbol of the enduring bond between Uganda and Israel and said the memorial would be located at the place where Yoni Netanyahu fell during the operation.
The ceremony comes during the 50th anniversary commemorations of the Entebbe rescue, an event that continues to draw international attention and remains one of the defining moments in Uganda's aviation history. In recent weeks, Uganda has hosted former Israeli hostages and their families at the Old Entebbe Terminal and State House, where President Yoweri Museveni emphasized remembrance, reconciliation and stronger people-to-people relations between Uganda and Israel.
Relations between Kampala and Jerusalem have steadily strengthened over the years through cooperation in security, agriculture, technology and trade. Gen. Muhoozi has repeatedly expressed support for Israel, describing the relationship as one built on shared history and mutual respect.
The unveiling of the Yoni Netanyahu memorial is expected to become another landmark at the Old Entebbe Terminal, preserving the memory of the dramatic events of 1976 while symbolizing Uganda's continuing engagement with Israel as both countries look to deepen bilateral cooperation.