Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ordered the closure of two of the country’s leading independent media outlets Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda in a move that has sparked fresh concerns over press freedom.
Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, announced the decision in a series of posts on X, declaring that he does “not believe in a free press” and insisting that the affected media organizations would remain shut until he grants permission for them to resume operations. He also stated that all negative reports about Uganda must receive clearance from his office before publication.
Following the directive, military personnel were deployed to the headquarters of Nation Media Group (NMG) in Kampala, preventing staff from entering or leaving the premises. Broadcast operations, including NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and several affiliated radio stations, were taken off the air. The affected outlets are among Uganda’s largest independent news organizations and are owned by Kenya-based Nation Media Group.
The military chief did not provide a specific reason for the shutdown. However, the move has drawn criticism from media stakeholders, with Uganda’s National Association of Broadcasters expressing deep concern over its implications for press freedom and the constitutional right to access information. As of the latest reports, neither the Ugandan government nor the Uganda Communications Commission had issued an official statement explaining the operation.
The development comes amid growing speculation that Kainerugaba could eventually succeed his father, President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986. Analysts note that the latest action echoes previous crackdowns on independent media, including the temporary closure of the Daily Monitor in 2013 over reports related to presidential succession.
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