Uganda's military chief shuts down leading independent media group, says he does not believe in free press

The shutdown

On Sunday, soldiers surrounded the Kampala offices of the Nation Media Group, Uganda's largest independent media company. The Daily Monitor newspaper, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and radio stations Dembe FM and KFM were forced off air. Staff were prevented from entering or leaving the premises. A senior NTV journalist told AFP that those who had worked overnight were ordered to leave by the military. Local media reported that the broadcasts displayed the message "Video unavailable."

Kainerugaba's declaration

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the army chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni, announced the closures on social media platform X.

“I DO NOT believe in a free press! The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution.”

He said the outlets would not reopen without his permission and that all media in Uganda must now follow the rules. Kainerugaba added that his father had approved the operation.

Broader crackdown

The media shutdown is the latest in a series of repressive moves by Kainerugaba, who has ordered arrests of politicians and activists in recent months. Many observers see him positioning himself to succeed his 81-year-old father, who won a disputed seventh term in January. Kainerugaba has a history of controversial posts, including threats to behead opposition leader Bobi Wine. On Sunday, he wrote that the closures were "only the beginning" and that many more arrests would follow.

Reactions

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the action.

“The use of state security forces to carry out publicly announced threats against independent media is a deeply troubling escalation.”

Uganda ranked 143rd out of 180 countries in the 2025 press freedom index by Reporters Without Borders. Government spokesperson Alan Kasujja and Nation Media Group's Uganda managing director Susan Nsibirwa did not respond to requests for comment.

Historical context

This is not the first time the Daily Monitor has been targeted. In 2013, the government shut it down for 10 to 13 days after it reported on an alleged plot to prepare Kainerugaba for the presidency. The current closure is far broader, affecting television and radio outlets as well.