Uganda's military chief shuts down top media houses

Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ordered the shutdown of two major media houses in the country. He stated that he does not believe in a free press.

Kainerugaba, who is also President Yoweri Museveni’s son, shared this decision in a series of posts on X on Sunday. He said the media houses will stay closed until he allows them to reopen.

“In Uganda, I do not believe in a free press. The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution,” he wrote.

The media outlets affected are the Daily Monitor, the largest independent newspaper in Uganda, and NTV Uganda, a major private television station. Both belong to Nation Media Group, a Kenyan media company listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

As of this report, Kainerugaba did not explain why he ordered the closure.

Military presence

According to the Daily Monitor, soldiers went to Nation Media Group’s offices in Kampala on Sunday. They stopped staff from entering or leaving the buildings.

The newspaper reported that the military presence disrupted operations at the media house.

A report by Reuters Africa mentioned that NTV Uganda and other radio and television stations run by Nation Media Group in Uganda were also off air by Sunday morning.

Ugandan government spokesperson Alan Kasujja did not reply immediately to requests for comments about this situation.

Similarly, Susan Nsibirwa, the managing director of Nation Media Group Uganda, said she had no immediate comments.

Press freedom issues

Further updates from Reuters Africa noted that Kainerugaba is often seen as a potential successor to his father. He is known for making controversial posts on social media.

In the past, he has made heated remarks, including threats against opposition leader Bobi Wine.

The closure of these media houses also reminds people of a similar incident in 2013. Back then, President Museveni’s government shut down the Daily Monitor for 10 days because of reports on succession politics.