Uganda’s military chief orders shutdown of two media outlets
✓The president’s son said he did not believe in a free press as military personnel were deployed to the media offices.
The chief of Uganda’s military says he has ordered the closure of two of the country’s biggest media outlets.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba said on Sunday that the Daily Monitor, the country’s largest independent daily newspaper, and NTV Uganda, one of the largest private broadcasters, were being shut down and would not reopen without his permission.
“In Uganda, I do not believe in a free press!” Kainerugaba, who is the president’s son, wrote on X.
“From now on ALL bad stories about Uganda have to be cleared by my office!” he said in one of a series of posts, adding that all media in Uganda would follow the rules, going forward.
Both the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda are owned by the Nation Media Group (NMG) conglomerate. The Daily Monitor said armed security personnel were outside NMG Uganda’s headquarters in Namuwongo, Kampala and its Serena Hotel location, with staff reporting “no one was being allowed to enter or leave.”
NTV Uganda, Spark TV and other TV and radio broadcasters owned by NMG were down in the country on Sunday, the Reuters news agency reported.
According to Kainerugaba, he has had the power to shut down any media outlet since 2017, when his father, President Yoweri Museveni, granted him this ability.
Kainerugaba is seen as the likely successor to his father, who has ruled Uganda since 1986 and is also known to write controversial social media posts.
His government shut down the Daily Monitor for 10 days in 2013, and in 2007, NTV Uganda was taken off air months after its launch, following government criticism of its coverage.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) are yet to release a statement on the operation.
Uganda’s National Association of Broadcasters said it was closely monitoring the situation, adding that it was “deeply concerned about this action and its impact on the media ecosystem” and the rights enshrined in the constitution.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
Uganda's military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced the closure of two major media outlets—the Daily Monitor newspaper and NTV Uganda broadcaster—both part of the Nation Media Group. Armed security personnel were positioned at media offices, restricting access. Kainerugaba stated on social media that he does not support a free press and that media outlets must obtain approval from his office before publishing critical stories about Uganda. According to Kainerugaba, he has possessed this shutdown authority since 2017, when President Yoweri Museveni granted it to him. Similar actions against these outlets occurred previously: the Daily Monitor was shut for 10 days in 2013, and NTV Uganda was taken off air in 2007 following government criticism. Uganda's military, police, and communications commission have not yet commented. Media industry associations reported concern about the action's implications for constitutional rights and the media landscape.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
The president’s son said he did not believe in a free press as military personnel were deployed to the media offices.
The chief of Uganda’s military says he has ordered the closure of two of the country’s biggest media outlets.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba said on Sunday that the Daily Monitor, the country’s largest independent daily newspaper, and NTV Uganda, one of the largest private broadcasters, were being shut down and would not reopen without his permission.
“In Uganda, I do not believe in a free press!” Kainerugaba, who is the president’s son, wrote on X.
“From now on ALL bad stories about Uganda have to be cleared by my office!” he said in one of a series of posts, adding that all media in Uganda would follow the rules, going forward.
Both the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda are owned by the Nation Media Group (NMG) conglomerate. The Daily Monitor said armed security personnel were outside NMG Uganda’s headquarters in Namuwongo, Kampala and its Serena Hotel location, with staff reporting “no one was being allowed to enter or leave.”
NTV Uganda, Spark TV and other TV and radio broadcasters owned by NMG were down in the country on Sunday, the Reuters news agency reported.
According to Kainerugaba, he has had the power to shut down any media outlet since 2017, when his father, President Yoweri Museveni, granted him this ability.
Kainerugaba is seen as the likely successor to his father, who has ruled Uganda since 1986 and is also known to write controversial social media posts.
His government shut down the Daily Monitor for 10 days in 2013, and in 2007, NTV Uganda was taken off air months after its launch, following government criticism of its coverage.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) are yet to release a statement on the operation.
Uganda’s National Association of Broadcasters said it was closely monitoring the situation, adding that it was “deeply concerned about this action and its impact on the media ecosystem” and the rights enshrined in the constitution.
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the president's son, ordered the shutdown of Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda Armed security personnel were deployed to Nation Media Group offices in Kampala Staff at media offices reported being unable to enter or leave facilities Kainerugaba stated he does not believe in a free press Kainerugaba claimed all negative stories about Uganda must be cleared by his office Kainerugaba states he has held shutdown authority over media since 2017 President Yoweri Museveni granted Kainerugaba this authority in 2017 The Daily Monitor was shut for 10 days in 2013 by the government NTV Uganda was taken off air in 2007 following government criticism of coverage Uganda's military, police, and communications commission have not publicly commented Kainerugaba is seen as likely successor to his father Uganda's broadcaster associations expressed deep concern about the action's impact on constitutional rights
Read the full story at BBC ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
- Uganda's military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordered the shutdown of Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, two major media outlets owned by Nation Media Group
- Armed security personnel were deployed to media offices; staff reported being unable to enter or leave facilities
- Kainerugaba stated he does not believe in a free press and that all negative stories about Uganda must be cleared by his office before publication
- Kainerugaba, the president's son, claims he has held shutdown authority since 2017 when granted by President Yoweri Museveni
- Uganda's media regulator and security agencies have not yet issued statements; broadcaster associations expressed concern about constitutional rights