Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ordered the shutdown of two of the country’s leading media organisations, saying he does not support press freedom.
Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, announced on Sunday that the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda had been closed and would remain shut until he authorises their reopening.
“In Uganda, I do not believe in a free press! The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution,” Kainerugaba wrote in a series of posts on X.
He further stated that the Daily Monitor, Uganda’s largest independent newspaper, and NTV Uganda, one of the country’s biggest private television stations, would “not re-open without my permission.”
The military chief did not explain the reasons behind the move against the two media houses, which are owned by Kenya-based Nation Media Group, a publicly listed media company on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
According to the Daily Monitor, armed personnel were deployed to NMG’s headquarters in Kampala on Sunday, restricting movement in and out of the premises and preventing staff from accessing the offices.
Broadcast operations were also affected, with NTV Uganda and other NMG-owned television and radio stations reportedly off air on Sunday morning.
Government spokesperson Alan Kasujja did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while NMG Uganda Managing Director Susan Nsibirwa said she had no immediate statement on the development.
Kainerugaba, widely viewed as a potential successor to his father, has frequently attracted attention for controversial social media remarks.
In the past, he has made threats against opposition leader Bobi Wine and sparked diplomatic tensions through his online posts.
The latest action recalls a 2013 incident when Museveni’s government suspended the Daily Monitor for 10 days following reports related to succession plans. Museveni has remained in power since taking office in 1986.
