Britain’s Foreign Office has condemned the Ugandan army’s shutdown of multiple media outlets, describing the move as a direct assault on press freedom. In a statement released this morning, a Foreign Office spokesperson said the UK was “deeply concerned” by reports that military personnel had forcibly entered newsrooms in Kampala and ordered broadcasters off the air. The action, which comes ahead of a controversial election, has drawn international criticism.
Witnesses described soldiers entering the offices of independent television stations and radio networks, demanding that they cease transmission immediately. Some reporters were briefly detained. The Ugandan government has not commented on the reason for the shutdown, but it follows weeks of tension between the state and opposition figures critical of President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.
For workers in Uganda’s media sector, the shutdown is a devastating blow. Many rely on freelance contracts or low salaries already squeezed by inflation. The National Union of Journalists in Britain has called on the Foreign Office to impose sanctions on those responsible. “Press freedom is not a luxury. It is the bedrock of democracy and the only defence workers have against state abuse,” said a spokesperson.
The Foreign Office statement urged the Ugandan government to “restore media operations immediately and uphold its commitments to democratic principles.” But for families in Kampala and beyond, the immediate concern is the loss of income and the chilling effect on public debate. One radio producer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “They took us off the air because we covered the opposition. Now our staff cannot pay school fees. This is an attack on our livelihoods.”
The UK has often championed press freedom abroad, but critics note that similar crackdowns in allied states sometimes pass without strong action. The Foreign Office insists it raised the matter directly with the Ugandan High Commissioner in London. However, no concrete measures have been announced beyond diplomatic protest.
For the workers caught in the crossfire, the shutdown is a reminder that press freedom is not abstract. It is the ability to earn a living and to hold power to account. Without it, the cost of living crisis deepens in ways that go beyond the price of bread.
