I have the power in Uganda to shut down any media house – Gen. Muhoozi roars after siege on Nation Media Group

Security personnel on Sunday shut down the premises of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda following a series of social media posts by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, ordering the closure of the media house.

The operation affected Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, KFM, Dembe FM, and other NMG-affiliated outlets, disrupting normal operations at one of Uganda’s largest independent media organizations.

In posts published on X, Gen. Muhoozi declared that he had the authority to close any media house in Uganda and announced that NTV and Daily Monitor had been shut down.

“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 Yoweri Museveni. NTV and Daily Monitor are learning about it today,” he wrote.

In subsequent posts, the military chief stated that he did not believe in a free press and that the media should be guided by what he described as “cadres of the revolution.”

“NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today. Both NTV and Monitor will not re-open without my permission. From now on ALL media in Uganda will follow the rules,” he added.

Following the statements, security officers reportedly deployed to Nation Media Group premises in Kampala during the early hours of Sunday and halted operations.

Daily Monitor later confirmed the development, saying security forces had ordered the closure of its offices alongside those of its sister media outlets.

The shutdown marks one of the most significant actions taken against a major media organization in recent years and is expected to spark renewed debate over press freedom and freedom of expression in Uganda.

As of Sunday, there had been no official statement from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the Uganda Media Centre, or the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance explaining the legal basis for the closure. Likewise, no formal government directive authorizing the shutdown had been made public.

The closure also raises questions about the operational status of the affected media houses, the continuity of their broadcasts and publications, and the implications for journalists and employees.

The incident comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of Uganda’s next electoral cycle, with media freedom remaining a subject of concern among local and international rights organizations.

It was not immediately clear how long the shutdown would remain in effect or whether Nation Media Group would challenge the action through the courts or other legal avenues.