Uganda's leading media outlets shut down by army chief

Lead

Uganda's military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ordered the closure of major media outlets owned by the Nation Media Group (NMG), including the Daily Monitor, the country's largest independent daily newspaper, and NTV Uganda, one of the largest private broadcasters. In a series of posts on the social media platform X, Kainerugaba declared, "In Uganda, I do not believe in a free press!" and stated that the outlets would "not re-open without my permission."

The closure has prompted international condemnation and heightened concerns about press freedom in Uganda, which already ranks low on global press freedom indexes. Reports from multiple sources, including Africa News, Al Jazeera, BBC, Deutsche Welle, and the Jerusalem Post, describe armed military personnel deployed at NMG's offices in Kampala, with staff unable to enter or leave the premises.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Africa News, Al Jazeera, BBC, Deutsche Welle, and the Jerusalem Post all confirm that Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, ordered the shutdown of NMG's operations in Uganda. The outlets affected include NTV Uganda, Spark TV, the Daily Monitor, and The East African, as reported by Deutsche Welle and Africa News. Al Jazeera and BBC also noted the closure of Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, while Africa News included Spark TV in its list.

Most reports highlighted Kainerugaba's statement that he does not believe in a free press, with some quoting his exact words: "The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution." The reports consistently framed the action as a blow to press freedom, with Africa News and Al Jazeera emphasizing concerns about government consolidation of power. Deutsche Welle's reporting was more critical, describing the move as a "crackdown" and citing strong reactions from the international community.

Key Claims

• The head of Uganda's military, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, ordered the closure of NMG's media outlets, including the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda. This claim appears across all reports.
• Kainerugaba, who is the son of President Yoweri Museveni, stated on X that he does not believe in a free press and that media should follow government guidelines. Multiple sources quote these statements.
• The closures affect NTV Uganda, Spark TV, the Daily Monitor, and The East African, as reported by Deutsche Welle and Africa News.
• Kainerugaba claimed he has had the power to shut down media outlets since 2017, granted by his father, President Museveni. This is reported by Al Jazeera, BBC, Deutsche Welle, and the Jerusalem Post.
• The Daily Monitor reported that military personnel were deployed at NMG's premises in Kampala, preventing staff from entering or leaving, as stated in its own coverage.
• Uganda ranks 143 out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, a figure cited by Africa News.
• Previous instances of media shutdowns in Uganda, including the 2013 closure of the Daily Monitor and the 2007 removal of NTV Uganda from air, were noted by BBC.
• US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch condemned the action and urged Washington to review its security relationship with Uganda, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

Perspectives

The material includes distinct viewpoints from named parties.

Government/Military Viewpoint: General Muhoozi Kainerugaba defended the closures, stating on X that he does not believe in a free press and that media should be "guided by cadres of the revolution." He claimed to have the authority to shut down media outlets, granted by his father, President Museveni, and insisted that media would follow the rules going forward.

International Response: US Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned the action, describing Kainerugaba and the Ugandan military as "unfit partners" and urging a review of the US-Uganda security relationship.

Opposition and Rights Groups: Opposition and human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the shutdown. They accuse Kainerugaba of being a central figure in a repressive regime and have called for the government to allow the media to operate freely.

NMG/Media Company's Position: Susan Nsibirwa, managing director for NMG in Uganda, said negotiations were ongoing at different levels for reopening, according to Reuters.

Supporters of the President: Some supporters of President Museveni and his family argue that they have guaranteed stability in Uganda and that the economy has improved under their rule, as noted by BBC.