The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has forcibly closed the offices of Daily Monitor, the country’s leading independent newspaper, and switched off its broadcasting signals. The move, ordered by army chief General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, marks an unprecedented escalation in the regime’s war on independent journalism.
Soldiers cordoned off the newspaper’s Kampala headquarters at dawn, confiscating equipment and barring staff from entry. The Uganda Communications Commission simultaneously revoked the paper’s broadcast licence, citing “national security” concerns. General Kainerugaba, who is also President Yoweri Museveni’s son, publicly justified the action, claiming the Daily Monitor had “crossed a red line” by publishing articles critical of the military’s role in suppressing opposition ahead of next year’s elections.
The UK Foreign Office was swift in its response. A spokesperson described the shutdown as “a direct assault on press freedom and the rule of law”, urging the Ugandan government to reverse the decision immediately. “A free media is essential for democracy and accountability,” the statement read. “We call on Ugandan authorities to respect their constitutional obligations and allow journalists to operate without fear.”
This is not an isolated incident. Uganda has worsened in Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index for four consecutive years. The Daily Monitor has faced repeated harassment, including temporary closures and tax audits, since it broke stories about corruption within the military and the ruling party. The newspaper’s editor, David Tusingwire, called the shutdown “a dark day for Ugandan journalism”, noting that the country is now entering a territory where no independent media can survive.
General Kainerugaba’s personal involvement is significant. Seen as the president’s likely successor, he has cultivated a belligerent reputation, often threatening journalists and political opponents on social media. Analysts view this raid as a dry run for a broader crackdown ahead of the 2026 elections. The International Press Institute condemned the action, stating that “military force has no place in media regulation”.
The shutdown has immediate consequences. The Daily Monitor’s investigative unit, which exposed the embezzlement of COVID-19 funds and military abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been effectively silenced. Alternative news outlets are now operating under a climate of fear. One journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity, described a “chilling effect” gripping the newsroom.
International legal experts are examining the legality under the East African Community treaty, to which Uganda is a signatory. The treaty guarantees freedom of the press, but Uganda’s judicial system, heavily influenced by the executive, offers little hope of redress. Meanwhile, the UK’s condemnation, while strong, carries limited weight in Kampala. The government has previously dismissed Western criticism as “neo-colonial interference”.
For now, the Daily Monitor’s printing presses remain silent. Its reporters, forced underground, continue to file stories from secret locations. The battle for Uganda’s democratic soul is far from over, but the army has fired a warning shot. As one editor put it: “When the military takes over a newsroom, democracy dies in that room.”
