ENTEBBE – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has hosted Mr Gilbert Weill, one of the survivors of the 1976 Entebbe Airport hijacking, together with his family and friends at State House Entebbe, in a symbolic return to Uganda nearly five decades after the historic ordeal.
Mr Weill, now 78, was received by President Museveni on a special invitation as part of a return visit by former hostages to the scene of the 1976 hijacking and rescue operation that drew global attention.
The visit included a tour of the old terminal 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 reflected on Uganda’s journey from years of turmoil to stability and development.
Speaking about the 1976 incident, the President noted that while the hijacking was a tragic episode, the events that followed exposed the vulnerabilities of former dictator Idi Amin’s regime.
“The hijacking was unfortunate, but the rescue operation became one of the factors that weakened Amin’s prestige. People saw that he was not as invincible as many had believed,” President Museveni said.
The President also spoke about Uganda’s transformation over the years, noting that the country had overcome a difficult past characterised by sectarian politics and instability.
“Uganda has come a long way. We rejected the politics of religion and tribe and instead focused on unity, peace and development. That is why the country is progressing,” he said.
President Museveni further highlighted Uganda’s economic potential, citing opportunities in agriculture, mineral development, freshwater resources and human capital.
“There is a lot of potential here. Uganda offers enormous investment opportunities, not only for the European market but also for the wider African continent,” the President said.
He also hailed the longstanding relationship between Uganda and Israel and called for stronger economic partnerships between Uganda and Europe, particularly in value addition, processing and export-oriented investment.
Mr Weill expressed gratitude to President Museveni for the invitation and described his return to Uganda after nearly 50 years as both emotional and meaningful.
“It is very exciting to come back after such a long time,” Mr Weill said. “Standing here again brings back many memories. It is an emotional experience, but it is also an opportunity to see how much Uganda has changed over the years,” he added.
Uganda’s Ambassador to Belgium, H.E. Mirjam Blaak Sow, and other officials attended the meeting.
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.