Uganda – In a dramatic escalation of tensions, heavily armed soldiers from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) surrounded the premises of two of Uganda’s leading independent media houses early Sunday morning, enforcing a direct shutdown order issued by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Witnesses described scenes of chaos and fear as military vehicles blocked all entrances to the Daily Monitor compound in Namuwongo and the Nation Media Group-owned NTV studios in Bukoto. Soldiers in full combat gear, some wielding tear gas canisters and batons, prevented staff from entering or leaving the buildings, while power and internet lines to both outlets were reportedly cut.
The move follows General Muhoozi’s late-night statement on X (formerly Twitter), in which he accused the two media organizations of “peddling treasonous lies and inciting chaos against the state.” Sources close to the General’s office claim the order was triggered by recent coverage of alleged corruption scandals within the military and growing speculation about presidential succession.
The Spark That Ignited the CrisisFor weeks, Daily Monitor and NTV had been running investigative reports and live discussions on leaked documents suggesting irregularities in defense procurement and questions surrounding the health and future role of President Yoweri Museveni.
One particular NTV documentary, aired just 48 hours earlier, featured anonymous sources claiming that General Muhoozi was positioning himself aggressively for higher office, allegedly sidelining constitutional processes.
In a fiery 3 a.m. post, Gen Muhoozi wrote: “Enough is enough. These so-called journalists are enemies of Uganda’s stability. Shut them down immediately. The army will enforce this.”By 5:30 a.m., UPDF troops had mobilized.
Journalists arriving for the morning shift at Daily Monitor were turned away at gunpoint.
One senior editor, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal, told local stringers: “They said anyone inside has 30 minutes to vacate or face arrest for sedition.
This is a dark day for press freedom in Uganda.”On the Ground: Tension and DefianceAt the NTV premises, staff barricaded themselves briefly in the newsroom before military police forced entry.
Cameras captured soldiers disconnecting broadcasting equipment and confiscating hard drives.
A small crowd of supporters gathered outside the gates, chanting “Free the press!” before being dispersed with tear gas.
NTV’s popular morning show host, who was preparing to go live, was escorted out of the building by two officers. “We were about to discuss national unity, not division,” she said as she was led away. “This is not how a confident government behaves.”Daily Monitor’s editor-in-chief issued a brief statement through a lawyer before communications were jammed: “We stand by every word we have published.
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