Nation Media Group outlets, including NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and Daily Monitor, were on Sunday night shut down following orders issued by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Through his X account, Gen. Muhoozi announced that President Museveni had approved his plan to shut down NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor.
“Mzee has approved my plan to close both NTV and Monitor. We are moving immediately. NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today!” Gen. Muhoozi wrote on X.
Minutes later, NTV Uganda, through its official X account, confirmed that security personnel had surrounded its premises.
“Military lays siege to Daily Monitor, NTV after Gen. Muhoozi orders shutdown,” NTV posted.
Following the shutdown, Gen. Muhoozi said the media houses would remain closed until he personally authorized their reopening.
“Both NTV and Monitor will not re-open without my permission,” he said.
He also declared that he does not believe in a free press, adding that all stories he described as portraying Uganda negatively must first be cleared by his office.
“In Uganda, I DO NOT believe in a free press! The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution. From now on, ALL bad stories about Uganda have to be cleared by my office!” he wrote.
According to Daily Monitor, KFM and Dembe FM were also forced off the air, although the reasons for their closure were not immediately known.
This is not the first time Nation Media Group outlets have faced closure. In 2007, NTV Uganda was raided and forced off the air over allegations that it was broadcasting negative news. In 2013, Daily Monitor and Dembe FM were also raided by police and shut down following the publication of a controversial story.
