A coalition of British Members of Parliament has called for immediate economic sanctions against Uganda following the military’s shutdown of multiple independent media outlets. The move, ordered by Uganda’s army chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights groups and diplomatic observers, who see it as a coordinated assault on press freedom ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The closures, which began last Thursday, targeted three major television stations and two radio networks known for critical coverage of the government. Soldiers entered the premises without warrants, confiscated broadcasting equipment, and sealed offices. The Uganda Communications Commission later cited “national security concerns,” though no specific evidence was provided. General Kainerugaba, who is also President Yoweri Museveni’s son, defended the action on social media, stating that “media that divides the nation has no place in Uganda.”
The British parliamentary response was swift. Over 40 MPs from all major parties signed a letter to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, urging him to impose targeted sanctions on senior Ugandan military officials and suspend bilateral aid worth approximately £100 million annually. The letter, coordinated by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Expression, accuses the Ugandan government of “deliberately dismantling democratic institutions” and calls the media crackdown “a clear violation of the East African Community’s protocol on good governance.”
Labour MP Sarah Champion, a co-signatory, stated: “We cannot stand by while a Commonwealth partner tramples on the very values we are meant to uphold. The UK must send a clear signal that authoritarian tactics will have consequences.” Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell added: “This is not just about five media houses. It is about the erosion of checks and balances that sustain any functioning democracy.”
The situation in Uganda mirrors a broader trend across the African continent, where press freedoms have declined for five consecutive years according to Reporters Without Borders. In 2025 alone, Uganda has slipped from 125th to 139th in the World Press Freedom Index. Legal analysts note that the current crackdown goes beyond previous episodes, as it targets outlets that had previously operated without direct harassment.
The foreign office has not yet confirmed whether sanctions will be implemented. A spokesperson said only that “the UK is deeply concerned by recent developments in Uganda and is reviewing all options.” Observers believe the government is wary of alienating Uganda, a key partner in counter-terrorism operations in the Horn of Africa and a major recipient of UK development funds. However, the humanitarian cost of inaction may be significant: over 5 million Ugandans rely on British-funded health and education programmes.
For the Ugandan journalists now out of work, the immediate future is bleak. Many have gone into hiding, fearing arrest under the country’s harsh cyber-crime laws which can impose life sentences for “offensive” online content. The Uganda Journalists Association has set up an emergency fund, but its chairperson, Maria Nakanjako, admitted in a statement: “Our colleagues are terrified. We are losing not just jobs but voices that held power accountable.”
The coming days will test Britain’s commitment to its stated foreign policy priorities of democracy and human rights. As the MPs’ letter makes clear, inaction risks emboldening other authoritarian governments in the region. For now, the world watches as Uganda’s army chief draws a line in the sand, and British parliamentarians dare him to cross it.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
