Uganda's military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced on Sunday that he has ordered the closure of the Daily Monitor, the country's largest independent daily newspaper, and NTV Uganda, one of the largest private broadcasters, stating they will not reopen without his permission.

"In Uganda, I do not believe in a free press!" Kainerugaba, the president's son, wrote on X. In a series of posts, he claimed that "from now on ALL bad stories about Uganda have to be cleared by my office" and that all media in Uganda would follow the rules going forward.

Both outlets are owned by the Nation Media Group (NMG) conglomerate. The Daily Monitor reported that armed security personnel were stationed outside NMG's headquarters in Kampala and its Serena Hotel location, with staff allegedly barred from entering or leaving.

According to Reuters, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and other NMG-owned broadcasters were down across the country on Sunday. Kainerugaba asserted he has had the power to shut down any media outlet since 2017, when his father, President Yoweri Museveni, purportedly granted him this authority.

Kainerugaba is seen as the likely successor to his father, who has ruled Uganda since 1986 and is also known for controversial social media posts. The regime previously shut down the Daily Monitor for 10 days in 2013, and in 2007, NTV Uganda was taken off air months after its launch following government criticism.

The Uganda People's Defence Forces, Uganda Police Force, and Uganda Communications Commission have yet to issue statements. Uganda's National Association of Broadcasters said it was "deeply concerned about this action and its impact on the media ecosystem" and constitutional rights.

Source: www.aljazeera.com