Uganda’s main independent media group said the country was under “military siege” after the army chief, son of President Yoweri Museveni, ordered the closure of TV stations, newspapers and radio outlets.
The Daily Monitor newspaper said armed soldiers were stationed outside the headquarters in the capital, Kampala, and both NTV and Spark TV were off the air.
The outlet is part of Nation Media Group, one of East Africa’s most influential media companies.
It is unclear what exactly caused the crackdown, but in a post about X, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba said: “I don’t believe in a free press! The press must be guided by revolutionary cadres.”
Opposition parties and human rights groups accuse General Kainerugaba of being a central figure in the deeply repressive regime led by his father.
Supporters of the president and his family say stability has been guaranteed in Uganda and the economy has improved under their rule.
President Museveni (81) is a former rebel leader who took power about 40 years ago.
He won a record seventh term in a disputed election last January, and there was widespread speculation that he was raising a son to one day succeed him.
General Kainerugaba said in
He said both NTV and Daily Monitor “will not reopen without my permission.”
“From now on, all media in Uganda will follow the rules!” The general added:
