Uganda's army commander Muhoozi Kainerugaba on January 19 ordered the closure of the country's two largest media outlets: Daily Monitor (the largest independent daily) and NTV Uganda (one of the largest private television stations). On social media platform X, Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, wrote: “In Uganda, I do not believe in a free press! From now on, all bad news about Uganda must be approved by my office!”
Kainerugaba stated that he has had the authority to shut down any media outlet since 2017, when his father granted him that power. He is considered a potential successor to President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986 and often posts controversial articles on social media.
Journalists and staff at the Daily Monitor headquarters in Namuwongo, Kampala, said armed security forces had blocked the building, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and other radio and television stations owned by the Nation Media Group (NMG) had ceased broadcasting on January 19.
Previously, the Ugandan government closed Daily Monitor for 10 days in 2013, and in 2007, NTV Uganda was taken off the air for several months shortly after its launch due to criticism of its reporting content.
The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF), Uganda Police, and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) have not made an official statement on the matter. The Uganda Broadcasting Association said it is closely monitoring the situation, expressing “deep concern about this action and its impact on the media ecosystem” as well as constitutionally protected rights.
