The Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has escalated his standoff with independent media after declaring that President Yoweri Museveni had approved a plan to shut down NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor.
In a series of posts on X, Muhoozi stated: “Mzee has approved my plan to close both NTV and Monitor. We are moving immediately!”
The remarks signal a significant escalation from earlier threats, which had initially been framed as proposals awaiting presidential clearance.
The general further announced new conditions for media operations in the country, saying: “From now on ALL bad stories about Uganda have to be cleared by my office!”
The statement has raised concern among journalists and observers about potential censorship and the future of editorial independence in Uganda.
The developments follow earlier threats in which Muhoozi declared that the two outlets would be shut down and would not resume operations without his authorization.
Shortly after those remarks, security forces were reportedly deployed at Nation Media Group (NMG) premises in Namuwongo, Kampala, restricting access to the compound and disrupting normal operations.
NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor are among the country’s most prominent independent media platforms, both operating under the Nation Media Group, a regional media organization with a strong presence across East Africa.
The outlets are known for their coverage of governance, politics, and investigative reporting.