In separate posts on X, Gen. Muhoozi dismissed the concept of an independent press, stating that he does not believe in media freedom and that the press should instead be guided by cadres of the revolution.
NTV Uganda and Spark TV were taken off air on Sunday after security forces surrounded the offices of Nation Media Group (NMG) in Kampala, following an overnight directive by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordering the closure of Daily Monitor and NTV.
The military deployment came hours after Gen. Muhoozi announced on X at 1:04am that the two NMG outlets would be shut down, saying the decision had the approval of President Yoweri Museveni.
Shortly after the announcement, NTV reported that security personnel had laid siege to its headquarters in Namuwongo, restricting access to the premises. Journalists were reportedly prevented from entering or leaving both the main offices and the Serena Hotel-based bureau.
By Sunday morning, NTV and Spark TV had gone off air, while reports indicated that NMG-owned radio stations Ddembe FM and 93.3 KFM were also affected.
Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara endorsed the move, saying the CDF’s directive should be respected. “Amri ya mkuu ni ya mwisho na lazima iheshimiwe,” he posted in response to Gen. Muhoozi’s announcement.
In separate posts on X, Gen. Muhoozi dismissed the concept of an independent press, stating that he does not believe in media freedom and that the press should instead be guided by cadres of the revolution.
The latest developments follow repeated warnings by the CDF that he intended to shut down Daily Monitor and NTV. The two outlets have frequently come under criticism from senior government officials, with President Museveni previously accusing Daily Monitor of publishing what he described as biased reports.
Nation Media Group journalists have also faced security-related restrictions in recent years, including during the Kawempe North by-election. The media house has at different times been barred from providing live coverage of state functions and parliamentary proceedings.
The siege also revived memories of previous crackdowns on the media house. In 2013, security agencies raided the Daily Monitor and Ddembe FM offices after the publication of a story linked to the alleged “Muhoozi Project,” forcing the outlets to remain closed for nearly a week. Earlier, in 2007, NTV faced censorship only months after its launch over allegations that it was broadcasting content critical of the government.
The latest security operation has renewed concerns among journalists, civil society groups and media rights advocates over press freedom and the operating environment for independent media in Uganda.
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