Kampala. In a dramatic escalation of state control over the press, Uganda’s army chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, ordered the closure of two of the country’s most prominent media outlets on Wednesday. The British High Commission in Kampala swiftly condemned the move, describing it as a “grave assault on press freedom” that could destabilise the nation’s fragile democratic institutions.
The closures targeted the Daily Monitor newspaper and the independent television station NBS TV, both known for their critical reporting of the government and the powerful military. Soldiers in plain clothes arrived at their offices mid-morning, seizing equipment and ordering staff to leave. By afternoon, the websites were offline and broadcasts had ceased.
General Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, has long been a controversial figure. He commands the Uganda People’s Defence Force and has a history of inflammatory remarks on social media. In a tweet posted shortly after the closures, he wrote: “Any media that spreads lies and incites violence will be silenced. The security of the nation comes first.” The tweet was later deleted.
The British High Commission’s statement, released by High Commissioner Kate Airey, read: “The closure of these outlets is a direct attack on the fundamental right to freedom of expression. Uganda is a signatory to international covenants that guarantee this right. We call on the authorities to reverse this decision immediately.” The statement also expressed concern for the safety of journalists, which the Committee to Protect Journalists has ranked as among the most dangerous in Africa.
For reporters in Kampala, the mood is one of fear and defiance. Sarah Kemigisa, a veteran editor at the Daily Monitor, said the paper had been operating under a cloud of intimidation for years. “This is not a surprise. We have had raids before, but never a full shutdown. The army wants to control the narrative, especially ahead of the 2026 elections,” she said.
The closures come at a time when Uganda’s economy is under strain. The cost of living has soared, with inflation pushing up prices for basic goods. Fuel costs have risen sharply, and the Ugandan shilling has lost value against the dollar. Workers in Kampala’s informal markets feel the pinch daily. “We cannot afford to eat,” said Grace Nakato, a fruit seller in the Owino market. “And now we cannot even hear the news. How are we supposed to know what the government is doing?”
Trade unions have also voiced solidarity with the journalists. The Uganda National Association of Journalists (UNAJ) called for a national strike by media workers if the outlets are not reopened within 48 hours. “This is an attack on all Ugandans,” said UNAJ Secretary General Robert Ssempala. “A free press is the only shield ordinary people have against corruption and abuse of power.”
The crackdown has drawn international condemnation beyond the UK. The United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union have all issued statements urging Uganda to uphold press freedoms. But inside the country, the response from the government has been defiant. Information Minister Chris Baryomunsi accused the media of “running a campaign to destabilise the country” and said the closures were “temporary measures to restore order.”
For the people in the industrial heartlands of Jinja and Mbale, the closures are a reminder of the narrowing space for dissent. “My father fought for independence so we could speak freely,” said Moses Okello, a factory worker in Jinja. “Now his son’s son cannot even read a newspaper. This is not the Uganda we dreamed of.”
The battle for Uganda’s soul is being fought on the streets and in the newsrooms. Without a free press, the voices of the poor and the working class are silenced. The British High Commission’s condemnation is important, but for many Ugandans, words will not feed their children or pay their rent. They need action. And they need their newspapers back.
