June 28, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | International News
Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has sparked widespread controversy after announcing the shutdown of leading media outlets, including NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and the Daily Monitor, while declaring that he does not believe in a free press.
General Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, made the announcement through a series of posts on X, claiming that the government had approved the move and that the affected media organizations would remain closed until further notice.
Reports indicate that NTV Uganda and Spark TV were taken off the air in the early hours of Sunday following a major overnight security operation at the Kampala offices of Nation Media Group (NMG), the company that owns the affected television stations, newspapers, and radio outlets.
In his posts, the army chief stated that all media organisations in Uganda must operate under government rules and claimed he had the authority to shut down any media house in the country. He also declared that he does not believe in a free press, saying media activities should be guided by what he described as the principles of the revolution.
The developments have reignited concerns over press freedom in Uganda, where media organisations have previously faced government crackdowns.
In 2013, security forces raided the offices of the Daily Monitor, shutting down its newspaper operations and sister radio stations for several days after the publication of a controversial letter alleging that President Museveni was preparing his son to succeed him as Uganda’s leader. The incident attracted widespread criticism from human rights groups and international observers, who described it as an attack on media independence.
The latest actions are expected to intensify debate over freedom of expression, government authority, and the role of independent journalism in Uganda as observers monitor further developments.
