The Ugandan military has forcibly closed three independent media outlets in Kampala, prompting a formal condemnation from the British Foreign Office. The shutdown, executed without prior warning, targeted radio stations and a newspaper critical of the government's handling of regional security in the Karamoja district.
Witnesses reported soldiers entering the offices of Radio Simba, Radio One, and the Daily Monitor at dawn on Tuesday, confiscating equipment and sealing premises. The army's spokesperson, Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye, cited an ongoing investigation into alleged dissemination of 'material that could incite public disorder.' He offered no further details.
The Foreign Office in London responded swiftly. A statement from the Minister for Africa, Andrew Mitchell, described the action as 'a direct assault on press freedom and democratic norms.' The statement called for the immediate restoration of operations and warned of 'consequences for bilateral relations' if the closures persisted.
The crackdown follows months of tension between Uganda's state security apparatus and journalists reporting on the Karamoja conflict, where cattle raiding and military reprisals have displaced thousands. Human Rights Watch has documented cases of arbitrary detention of reporters in the region.
International press freedom organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, have also condemned the closures. The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression has yet to comment.
Analysts suggest the move may be linked to upcoming elections in 2026, with the government seeking to silence dissent ahead of a likely contentious campaign. President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, has faced increased scrutiny over corruption and human rights abuses.
The British response underscores London's broader concern over democratic backsliding in East Africa. The Foreign Office recently revised its travel advice for Uganda, citing 'increased risks of arbitrary detention.'
Efforts to reach the Ugandan Information Minister were unsuccessful. The media outlets' editors have vowed to challenge the closure in court.
