Ugandan President Defends Media Closures as 'Consolidation'

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has publicly defended the recent forced closure of at least six independent media outlets, characterizing the actions as "recent and limited" measures necessary for consolidating the nation's progress. Speaking in a national address, Museveni framed the security forces' actions not as a setback but as a reinforcement of Uganda's long-standing commitment to patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socioeconomic transformation, and democracy.

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What the security forces have been doing in the last few days is not a setback, but a consolidation of our long struggle for patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socioeconomic transformation and democracy.

The president asserted that the authorities' actions were "positive," suggesting that "some investors and tourists were scared due to fake news" about the country. This statement appears to support his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who heads the armed forces. Kainerugaba had ordered the closure of the Daily Monitor newspaper, NTV Uganda, radio stations Dembe FM and KFM, Spark TV, and the regional newspaper The East African on June 27, without providing explicit reasons.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that security forces occupied the headquarters of Nation Media Group Uganda, a major regional conglomerate, and prevented the Daily Monitor from printing and its associated broadcasters from airing. General Kainerugaba controversially stated on social media platform X, "In Uganda, I don't believe in freedom of the press! The press must be led by the cadres of the revolution." Amnesty International has also demanded an immediate end to the harassment of independent media outlets.

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some investors and tourists were scared due to fake news about the country.

This is not the first time media under Nation Media Group has faced government action. In 2013, Museveni's government, in power since 1986, temporarily shut down the Daily Monitor and Dembe FM following reports about a succession plan dubbed "Project Muhoozi." Museveni, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, has amended the constitution twice to remove age and term limits.

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In Uganda, I don't believe in freedom of the press! The press must be led by the cadres of the revolution.