Press Under Siege! Uganda's Military Chief Silences Top Media Outlets in Alarming Crackdown

Uganda's military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, has ordered the closure of two of the country's leading media outlets: the Daily Monitor, Uganda’s largest independent daily newspaper, and NTV Uganda, one of the country's biggest private broadcasters. This directive, issued on Sunday, saw armed soldiers deployed to surround the offices of Nation Media Group (NMG), which owns the affected outlets, in the capital, Kampala. Staff were reportedly prevented from entering or leaving the premises, and all NMG TV and radio broadcasters in the country were down.

General Kainerugaba explicitly declared his disbelief in a free press, stating on the X platform that media in Uganda should be "guided by cadres of the revolution." He asserted that the outlets would "not re-open without my permission" and claimed to be exercising powers granted by his father since 2017 to shut down media. However, he did not provide specific reasons for the closures, intensifying concerns over press freedom in the East African nation. Ugandan government spokesperson Alan Kasujja and NMG Uganda managing director Susan Nsibirwa did not immediately provide comments on the situation.

This latest move by Kainerugaba follows a history of controversial actions and statements. Widely touted as a possible successor to his ageing father, President Yoweri Museveni, Kainerugaba is known for contentious social media posts, including previous threats to behead opposition leader Bobi Wine. The current shutdown revives memories of a similar incident in 2013, when President Museveni's government closed the Daily Monitor for 10 days over reports concerning his succession, highlighting a recurring pattern of government action against independent media.

The Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) has strongly condemned General Kainerugaba's order, describing it as a serious threat to press freedom, freedom of expression, and democratic accountability. KEG President Zubeidah Kananu emphasized that media freedom is not a privilege but a fundamental right that allows citizens access to independent and accountable information. Kananu stated that the reported closure through military force represents a grave affront to media freedom and the rule of law, setting a dangerous precedent that undermines democratic governance and public access to independent information.

The Guild called for the immediate restoration of access to the affected media premises, respect for due process, and judicial mechanisms. They also demanded guarantees for the safety and independence of journalists performing their professional duties. KEG stressed that any grievances against a media organization, no matter how strongly held, must be addressed through established legal and regulatory processes. The shutdown has exacerbated concerns over the shrinking space for press freedom, freedom of expression, and democracy across the East African region, with KEG advocating for regional bodies to remain vigilant and speak out against actions that threaten independent journalism and democratic accountability.