”I do not believe there is a free press in Uganda. The press should be directed by the warriors of the revolution,” wrote Army Chief Muhozi Kaynerugawa on social media.
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Ugandan army chief Muhozi Kayineruga has ordered the closure of the country's two most popular media outlets, the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda. He said he had no faith in an independent press. The Daily Monitor is Uganda's largest-selling independent daily newspaper. NTV Uganda is one of the country's largest private broadcasters. "I do not believe in a free press in Uganda. The press should be led by revolutionaries," he wrote in a series of posts on social media. Ugandan government spokesman Alan Kasuza did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NMG managing director Susan Shibirwa also said she had no immediate comment.
Both media outlets are operated by the National Media Group (NMG). The media corporation is headquartered in Kenya and is listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange.
The Daily Monitor reported that soldiers were deployed to its office in the capital Kampala on Sunday. It also reported that the military had restricted employees from entering and leaving the premises.
Kinerugawa is the son of President Yoweri Museveni. He has been in the news for his controversial posts on social media. Some time ago, he even threatened to behead opposition leader Bobi Wine.
Museveni has been in power in Uganda since 1986. In 2013, his government closed the Daily Monitor for 10 days over a news report.
