KAMPALA
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has declared that all media in Uganda will follow the rules, hours after security personnel surrounded the premises of Nation Media Group Uganda and reports emerged that its outlets had been taken off air.
In a post published on his official X account, Gen. Muhoozi wrote:
“From now on ALL media in Uganda will follow the rules!”
The statement comes amid heightened public attention following reports that Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and other Nation Media Group platforms had been affected by a security operation.
Earlier reports state that NTV Uganda and Spark TV had been forced off air, while the newspaper said it had been ordered shut down on the instructions of Gen. Muhoozi.
Security personnel were also reported to have deployed around the company’s headquarters in Kampala.
According to Muhoozi he says that he has all the power in Uganda to shutdown any media house he wants.
“I have the power in Uganda to shut down ANY media house I want to. I have had this power since 2017. This power was given to me by my great father President. NTV and Daily Monitor are learning about it today,” said Muhoozi.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has not issued a detailed statement explaining the legal basis for the reported operation or clarified what prompted the action against the media house.
The developments have drawn criticism from opposition leaders and media freedom advocates.
National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, condemned the reported shutdown, alleging that it was intended to silence independent media. His remarks reflect his political position and have not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, concerns about press freedom have resurfaced, with journalists and civil society organizations calling for respect for constitutional protections on freedom of expression and access to information.
Uganda’s Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, expression and the press under Article 29, while Article 41 provides for the right of access to information held by the State, subject to limitations prescribed by law.
As of publication, the affected media houses had not announced when normal operations would resume.
Authorities had also not disclosed whether any enforcement action was being taken under specific provisions of Ugandan law.
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