Uganda Army Chief Orders Shutdown of Major Media Houses

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has openly defended the closure of some of the country’s leading media organisations, declaring that he does not believe in press freedom and insisting he has the authority to shut down any media outlet operating in the country.

The affected media organisations—NTV Uganda, Spark TV and the Daily Monitor—were forced off the air after security personnel carried out a late-night operation at the headquarters of their parent company, Nation Media Group (NMG), in Kampala.

According to reports by the Daily Monitor, heavily armed security operatives arrived at the company’s premises shortly after midnight on Sunday, sealing off the building and preventing journalists and other employees from entering or leaving the compound. The operation resulted in the suspension of broadcasts by NTV Uganda and Spark TV, while publication activities at the Daily Monitor were also disrupted.

As of the time of filing this report, Ugandan authorities had not issued an official explanation for the closure of the media organisations.

General Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Museveni, had repeatedly threatened on his social media accounts to shut down both NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor. He previously claimed he was only waiting for approval from his father before taking action.

Following Sunday’s operation, the army chief took to X (formerly Twitter) to justify the closures.

“I have the power in Uganda to shut down ANY media house I want to. I have had this power since 2017. This power was given to me by my great father President Yoweri Museveni. NTV and Daily Monitor are learning about it today,” he wrote.

In another post, Kainerugaba insisted that the affected media organisations would remain shut until he personally approved their reopening.

“Both NTV and Monitor will not re-open without my permission,” he stated.

The military chief also warned that the latest action was only the beginning of a broader campaign against media organisations in the country.

“The closure of NTV and Monitor is just the beginning. We are going to arrest many more,” he wrote.

Kainerugaba further dismissed the principle of an independent press, saying he does not support media freedom in Uganda.

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

The comments have sparked renewed concerns among media rights advocates and civil society groups over the state of press freedom and freedom of expression in Uganda.

President Yoweri Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. The 81-year-old secured a seventh term in office after winning the January 2026 presidential election, an outcome that drew criticism from opposition parties and international election observers over concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.

General Kainerugaba has increasingly emerged as one of Uganda’s most influential political and military figures and is widely seen as a possible successor to his father, further fuelling debate over the country’s political future and democratic institutions.

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