Uganda's biggest private media outlets have gone off the air following government intervention. NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and Daily Monitor all faced disruptions at their Nation Media Group headquarters in Kampala on Sunday morning.
Security personnel blocked access to the building during early hours. Staff couldn't enter or conduct normal broadcast operations.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the President's son and Chief of Defence Staff, ordered the closures. He's been publicly threatening these outlets for days.
Kainerugaba claimed he has authority to shut down any media house in the country. He insisted the stations won't reopen without his personal permission.
"Both NTV and Monitor will not re-open without my permission," he declared. The general added that such powers were granted to him years ago.
He went further, rejecting the concept of press independence altogether. According to him, journalists should work under guidance of what he called "cadres of the revolution."
Officials provided no legal justification for the action. No formal announcement explained the basis for the intervention.
Kainerugaba warned this shutdown represents just the start. "We are going to arrest many more," he told reporters, signaling broader crackdowns ahead.
These media houses had already faced mounting pressure in recent months. They were restricted from accessing official events involving President Museveni.
The move deepens worries about press freedom in Uganda. Civil liberties and freedom of expression concerns continue mounting across the nation.
Yoweri Museveni, now 81, has ruled Uganda since 1986. He's among Africa's longest-serving leaders and won re-election in a disputed vote.
Kainerugaba has grown increasingly powerful politically. Many observers see him as a potential successor to his aging father.
The shutdown will likely attract international attention. Press freedom advocates and rights groups are expected to respond strongly.
Uganda heads toward another election cycle soon. Questions about political succession and democratic freedoms remain hotly debated.
