Uganda's military held a ceremony on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026, to unveil a statue honoring Lt Col Yonatan Netanyahu, the older brother of the Israeli Prime Minister. Netanyahu was killed during a hostage rescue operation at Entebbe Airport in Uganda in 1976.

The statue was revealed by Uganda's military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who praised Netanyahu's leadership and sacrifice. Kainerugaba said, “it is a great honour and privilege to join you at this historic site as we unveil this monument to Lt Col. Yonatan Yoni Netanyahu, whose leadership and ultimate sacrifice during the Entebbe raid of 4th July 1976 has become an enduring symbol of courage, duty and selfless service.”

During the ceremony, Kainerugaba also criticized the former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, who had severed ties with Israel. He stated, “of course, today we know that the government of Idi Amin, which they served, was a brutal dictatorship which did not represent the Ugandan people in any way. Today, however, Uganda is a constitutional democracy committed to peaceful co-existence and constructive engagement with the international community.”

The 1976 hostage rescue at Entebbe is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in Israeli history and one of its greatest military achievements.

Sources