Museveni Welcomes 1976 Entebbe Hijacking Survivor Back to Uganda

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today hosted Mr. Gilbert Weill, one of the survivors of the 1976 Entebbe Airport hijacking incident, together with his family and friends at State House Entebbe, in a symbolic return to Uganda nearly 50 years after the historic ordeal.

Mr. Weill, now 78 years old, was received by President Museveni on a special invitation as part of a return visit by former hostages to the site of the 1976 hijacking and rescue operation that captured global attention.

The visit also included a tour of the old terminal building at Entebbe International Airport, where Mr. Weill and other hostages were held during the hijacking. The delegation comprised former hostages from Israel and Belgium, reflecting renewed people-to-people ties and growing friendship between Uganda, Israel, and Belgium.

During the meeting, President Museveni welcomed Mr. Weill and his family and shared Uganda’s journey over the years, including the country’s liberation struggle and efforts to rebuild the nation after years of instability.

Reflecting on the 1976 incident, the President noted that although the hijacking was a tragic event, the subsequent rescue operation became a turning point that weakened the grip of former dictator Idi Amin. He observed that the events significantly undermined Amin’s prestige and the fear he commanded among the population.

President Museveni also spoke about Uganda’s transformation over the years, noting that the country had overcome a difficult past marked by divisive politics based on religion and tribalism. He reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to unity, stability, and development, while highlighting the country’s vast economic potential in agriculture, mineral resources, freshwater resources, and human capital.

The President further praised the relationship between Uganda and Israel and called for stronger economic partnerships between Uganda and Europe, particularly in value addition, processing, and export-oriented investment.

“There is a lot of potential here,” President Museveni said, adding that Uganda offers significant investment opportunities not only for European markets but also for the wider African continent.

Mr. Weill expressed gratitude to President Museveni for the special invitation, describing his return to Uganda after nearly five decades as both emotional and deeply significant.

“It is very exciting to come back after such a long time,” he said.

The meeting was also attended by Uganda’s Ambassador to Belgium, Mirjam Blaak Sow, among other officials.

The visit marks another important moment in preserving the memory of one of the most dramatic episodes in Uganda’s aviation history while strengthening international friendship and mutual understanding between Uganda and the families of those affected by the 1976 Entebbe hijacking.