KAMPALA, Uganda — Press freedom concerns intensified in Uganda on Sunday after the country’s military chief ordered the closure of two of the nation’s largest independent media outlets, prompting journalists to describe the situation as a “military siege” of their headquarters.
Soldiers from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) were deployed outside the Kampala offices of the Daily Monitor newspaper and NTV Uganda, preventing employees from entering or leaving the premises. Broadcasting operations for NTV Uganda, along with other Nation Media Group television and radio stations in the country, were reportedly taken off the air. Reuters reported that military personnel had surrounded the company’s offices as the shutdown order took effect.
The directive came from General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and the son of President Yoweri Museveni, who announced on the social media platform X that he had ordered the media organizations closed.
“I do not believe in a free press,” Kainerugaba wrote. “The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution.” He further declared that the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda would “not re-open without my permission.” Reuters reported that the general did not provide a specific reason for the closures.
Both media organizations are owned by Nation Media Group (NMG), one of East Africa’s largest independent media companies headquartered in Kenya. The company has not immediately issued a detailed public response, while Ugandan government officials also did not provide an official explanation for the military action, according to Reuters.
The Daily Monitor described the deployment of troops around its offices as a “military siege,” reporting that journalists and staff were effectively prevented from carrying out their work. The newspaper has long been regarded as one of Uganda’s leading independent publications and has previously faced government pressure over its reporting.
According to the Associated Press, the military operation extended beyond the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, with Uganda’s National Association of Broadcasters stating that at least six publishing and broadcasting outlets affiliated with Nation Media Group had been shut down. The association expressed deep concern over the impact of the action on Uganda’s media landscape and freedom of expression.
The latest crackdown has renewed international concerns over press freedom in Uganda, where President Museveni has ruled since 1986. In 2013, authorities temporarily shut down the Daily Monitor after it published reports concerning presidential succession, an incident widely criticized by media rights organizations. Reuters noted that Sunday’s events bear similarities to that earlier closure.
General Kainerugaba has increasingly emerged as one of the country’s most powerful political figures and is widely viewed as a potential successor to his father. In recent months, he has drawn international attention for controversial public statements and an expanding role in Uganda’s political affairs.
Media rights advocates are expected to closely monitor developments as Uganda’s independent press faces one of its most significant confrontations with the military in recent years. At the time of publication, there was no indication of when the affected media outlets would be allowed to resume normal operations.