The monument was unveiled during a ceremony attended by Uganda's military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who praised Netanyahu's leadership and sacrifice during the July 4, 1976 Entebbe raid.

Netanyahu, the elder brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was the only Israeli soldier killed in the operation that rescued hostages held at Entebbe Airport.

Addressing the ceremony, Kainerugaba described the event as a tribute to a soldier whose actions continue to inspire generations.

“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.”

The Ugandan military chief also used the occasion to distance today's Uganda from the rule of former dictator Idi Amin, whose government had broken diplomatic ties with Israel before the 1976 operation.

“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 Entebbe raid remains one of Israel's most celebrated military operations.

Israeli commandos flew thousands of kilometres to rescue hostages after an Air France plane was hijacked and diverted to Uganda. The mission is widely regarded as a defining moment in Israel's military history and one of its greatest rescue operations.

The new monument marks a rare public recognition by Uganda of the operation and honours the commander whose death became one of the raid's most enduring legacies.