President Museveni on June 23, 2026 hosted Gilbert Weill, a survivor of the 1976 Entebbe hijacking, along with his family and friends at State House Entebbe during their visit to Uganda nearly 50 years after the incident.
In a statement, Museveni reflected on the events surrounding the hijacking and the military rescue operation that followed.
“Today, I hosted Mr. Gilbert Weill, one of the survivors of the 1976 Entebbe hijacking, together with his family and friends at State House, Entebbe, as they returned to Uganda nearly 50 years after that tragic incident,” Museveni said.
The President said that while the hijacking was a tragedy, the rescue mission marked a turning point in Uganda’s history.
“I told them that although the hijacking was a tragedy, the rescue operation became a turning point and marked the beginning of the collapse of the Idi Amin regime,” he said.
Museveni also used the meeting to highlight Uganda’s transformation since the turbulent years of the 1970s.
He said he shared Uganda’s journey from political instability to the peace, stability and development the country enjoys today.
The President further called for stronger economic cooperation between Uganda, Israel and Europe, particularly in value addition and agro-industrialisation.
Weill is among a group of Israeli and Belgian former hostages who recently returned to Uganda and visited the old terminal at Entebbe International Airport, where they were held during the hijacking of an Air France flight in June 1976.
The delegation included Weill’s family members, grandchildren and more than 30 Jewish and Belgian visitors.
During the visit, Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Col Chris Magezi, described the hijacking as a terrorist act against innocent civilians. He said the rescue operation helped shape stronger relations between Uganda and Israel.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Belgium, Mirjam Blaak Sow, also described the visit as a symbol of resilience, reconciliation and growing cooperation between Uganda, Israel and Belgium.
The Entebbe raid remains one of the most studied counter-terrorism operations in modern history. Israeli commandos rescued more than 100 hostages after the Air France aircraft was diverted to Entebbe Airport by pro-Palestinian and German militants.
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