The Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ordered the arrest of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda CEO Susan Nsibirwa, escalating tensions between the military leadership and independent media houses.
The directive follows the shutdown of several NMG-affiliated outlets by security operatives over the weekend.
In a series of posts, Muhoozi referred to the media executive in dismissive terms, stating: “I hear there is a small girl called ‘Sue…’. We are looking for her. We will discipline her. She cannot cause chaos in our country.”
He later clarified the identity, adding, “Sue Nsibirwa… I’m looking for her,” before instructing security agencies that “all police patrols are instructed to arrest her on sight.”
The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from media rights advocates and legal observers, who argue that the language used by the army chief raises concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists and media executives in Uganda.
Nsibirwa, a respected media manager, heads the Uganda operations of Nation Media Group, which owns leading outlets including NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor.
The shutdown of these outlets reportedly occurred on Saturday night, when security personnel moved to halt broadcasting and distribution without publicly providing detailed justification.
The developments have triggered widespread debate about the role of the military in regulating media operations and the broader implications for freedom of expression.