29.06.2026 00:50
In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni's son and Chief of Staff Muhoozi Kainerugaba shut down the country's largest independent newspaper and television channel, stating, "I do not believe in a free press." Following Kainerugaba's order, military forces surrounded the buildings of both organizations, completely blacking out their broadcasts.
A severe military intervention against media freedom has taken place in the African country of Uganda.
“I DO NOT BELIEVE IN A FREE PRESS” AND SHUT BOTH DOWN
Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1986, and also Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, announced the closure of the country's two most established media outlets.
In a statement on social media, Kainerugaba said, “I do not believe in a free press in Uganda! The press must be guided by the cadres of the revolution. These two media organizations will not reopen without my permission.”
ARMY SURROUNDS BUILDINGS, BROADCASTS COMPLETELY CUT
Following the closure order, the Ugandan army acted swiftly. The Daily Monitor newspaper, owned by the Kenya-based 'Nation Media Group' (NMG), announced that its buildings in the capital Kampala were surrounded by military personnel and that employees were completely blocked from entering or leaving.
As of Sunday morning, broadcasts from NTV Uganda, one of the country's largest private television channels, along with all radio and television stations owned by the group, were completely blacked out through military intervention. Kainerugaba did not provide any official or specific justification for the closure decision.
Following this censorship, which amounted to a coup-like act, Uganda Government Spokesperson Alan Kasujja fell silent, leaving comment requests from the international news agency Reuters unanswered. The Managing Director of NMG in Uganda, Susan Nsibirwa, stated that due to the sensitivity of the situation, she could not make an immediate comment at this stage.
HAD THREATENED TO BEHEAD HIS OPPONENTS
Chief of Defence Forces Kainerugaba, who is widely regarded as the certain successor to his father as the country's next leader, is also known for his previous violent threats on social media. Known for his aggressive demeanor, Kainerugaba had previously drawn significant international backlash by directly threatening leading Ugandan opposition figure Bobi Wine with beheading.