Military Crackdown on Press
Ugandan military chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordered the closure of several major media outlets on Sunday, deploying soldiers to the Kampala headquarters of the Nation Media Group (NMG). The directive, which forced the shutdown of the Daily Monitor and broadcaster NTV, marks a significant escalation in the state’s pressure on independent journalism.
Kainerugaba, the eldest son of President Yoweri Museveni and the country’s top military commander since 2024, utilized the platform X to assert his authority. “I have the power in Uganda to shut down ANY media house I want to,” he stated, claiming the mandate was delegated to him by his father. He further remarked, “I do not believe in a free press! The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution.”
Institutional Stakes
The National Association of Broadcasters confirmed that at least six publishing and broadcasting outlets associated with NMG were shuttered during the raid. Employees were reportedly blocked from entering or leaving the premises as military personnel maintained a presence at the sites.
The move comes shortly after President Museveni was sworn in for a seventh consecutive term. As the 81-year-old leader relies increasingly on his son’s military apparatus, observers view Kainerugaba’s actions as an assertion of de facto executive control. The military chief has previously targeted government critics, including the detention of opposition figures and threats against legal professionals.
Regional Context
While the media crackdown dominates internal affairs, the Ugandan government is simultaneously managing a humanitarian crisis abroad. Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Haruna Kasolo announced on Sunday that Uganda will evacuate 746 nationals from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic violence. The government plans to utilize Uganda Airlines for charter flights to repatriate citizens, following the death of a Ugandan national in KwaZulu-Natal.