Uganda’s military chief orders shutdown of two media outlets

The president’s lad said helium did not judge successful a escaped property arsenic subject unit were deployed to the media offices.

The main of Uganda’s subject says helium has ordered the closure of 2 of the country’s biggest media outlets.

Muhoozi Kainerugaba said connected Sunday that the Daily Monitor, the country’s largest autarkic regular newspaper, and NTV Uganda, 1 of the largest backstage broadcasters, were being unopen down and would not reopen without his permission.

“In Uganda, I bash not judge successful a escaped press!” Kainerugaba, who is the president’s son, wrote connected X.

“From present connected ALL atrocious stories astir Uganda person to beryllium cleared by my office!” helium said successful 1 of a bid of posts, adding that each media successful Uganda would travel the rules, going forward.

Military unit deployed

Both the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda are owned by the Nation Media Group (NMG) conglomerate. The Daily Monitor said equipped information unit were extracurricular NMG Uganda’s office successful Namuwongo, Kampala and its Serena Hotel location, with unit reporting “no 1 was being allowed to participate oregon leave.”

NTV Uganda, Spark TV and different TV and vigor broadcasters owned by NMG were down successful the state connected Sunday, the Reuters quality bureau reported.

According to Kainerugaba, helium has had the powerfulness to unopen down immoderate media outlet since 2017, erstwhile his father, President Yoweri Museveni, granted him this ability.

Kainerugaba is seen arsenic the apt successor to his father, who has ruled Uganda since 1986 and is besides known to constitute arguable societal media posts.

His authorities unopen down the Daily Monitor for 10 days successful 2013, and successful 2007, NTV Uganda was taken disconnected aerial months aft its launch, pursuing authorities disapproval of its coverage.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Uganda Police Force and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) are yet to merchandise a connection connected the operation.

Uganda’s National Association of Broadcasters said it was intimately monitoring the situation, adding that it was “deeply acrophobic astir this enactment and its interaction connected the media ecosystem” and the rights enshrined successful the constitution.