By Kabugho Elias
KAMPALA, Uganda – Uganda’s media landscape was thrown into turmoil on Sunday after the country’s military chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, ordered the shutdown of leading Nation Media Group (NMG) outlets, a move that has triggered fierce condemnation from opposition leaders, journalists, media organizations, civil society groups, and free speech advocates.
The unprecedented operation saw soldiers from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) deploy to Nation Media Group premises in Namuwongo and transmission facilities at Kampala Serena Hotel before dawn, forcing several of the country’s most influential media platforms off the air.
Broadcasters NTV Uganda and Spark TV stopped transmission, while the Daily Monitor, KFM, and Dembe FM also suspended normal operations as armed personnel sealed off facilities and reportedly prevented staff from accessing their workplaces.
The shutdown followed a series of posts by Gen. Muhoozi on X shortly after midnight.
“NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today!” he wrote at 1:07 a.m.
Minutes later, he added:
“They will not re-open without my permission.”
In another post that quickly drew widespread criticism, the Chief of Defence Forces declared:
“In Uganda, I DO NOT believe in a free press! The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution.”
As of Sunday afternoon, no court order, legal directive, or official government instrument had been publicly produced to justify the military action.
The closures come after several days of escalating tensions between the military leadership and sections of Uganda’s independent media over coverage involving President Yoweri Museveni and senior security officials.
Political Leaders Condemn Military Action
The shutdown prompted immediate reactions across Uganda’s political spectrum.
Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, described the operation as another sign that Uganda was sliding deeper into military rule.
He accused Gen. Muhoozi of using the armed forces to intimidate independent journalists and silence dissent, warning that continued attacks on the media threaten the country’s democratic future.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) also issued a strongly worded statement, saying:
“Forty years of dictatorship. Today Muhoozi woke up and shut down NTV and Daily Monitor with a tweet—without following any law or court order. An attack on the media is an attack on all Ugandans.”
Questions Over Legality
Journalist and political commentator Kungu Al-mahadi Adam pointed to remarks from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), whose Executive Director Nyombi Thembo said the regulator had “noted the circumstances” surrounding the shutdown and was consulting relevant government stakeholders while urging the public to remain calm.
The statement, however, did little to settle questions surrounding the legality of the operation.
Medical doctor and public commentator Herman Kinene questioned whether the communications regulator had prior knowledge of the military deployment, raising concerns over institutional accountability and due process.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) also condemned the closures, demanding an immediate explanation regarding the legal authority under which soldiers were deployed against licensed media houses.
Public Opinion Deeply Divided
Reaction across social media reflected Uganda’s increasingly polarized political environment.
Many citizens described the operation as one of the most serious attacks on press freedom in recent years, arguing that shutting down major media organizations without judicial oversight undermines constitutional protections and democratic governance.
Others, particularly supporters of the ruling establishment, defended the action, accusing the affected media organizations of persistent political bias and alleging that they had become platforms for opposition politics.
Echoes of Previous Media Crackdowns
The latest developments have revived memories of previous confrontations between Ugandan authorities and independent media, including the 2013 security raid on the Daily Monitor, Red Pepper publications, and Dembe FM.
Media rights advocates warn that Sunday’s operation represents a significant escalation because the closure appeared to originate directly from public statements by the country’s military commander rather than through established legal or regulatory processes.
Nation Media Group Uganda remains one of the country’s largest private media employers, with hundreds of journalists, editors, producers, engineers, and support staff working across television, radio, digital, and print platforms.
The full economic impact of the shutdown—including potential advertising losses, disruptions to news production, and employment implications—has yet to be determined.
Growing International Concern
International press freedom organizations and human rights observers have already begun expressing concern over the shutdown, warning that the incident could further damage Uganda’s reputation regarding media freedom, democratic governance, and respect for the rule of law.
The closure is also expected to intensify debate over shrinking civic space ahead of Uganda’s next electoral cycle, with journalists, opposition figures, and civil society organizations increasingly warning of growing restrictions on independent voices.
Whether the affected media houses will be allowed to resume operations—or whether the shutdown signals a broader crackdown on independent journalism—remains uncertain.
