Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's military chief and eldest son of President Yoweri Museveni, ordered the closure of the Daily Monitor newspaper's Kampala offices on Sunday, deploying soldiers to enforce what he's calling a new era of media compliance in the East African nation.
Kainerugaba, who's served as the top military commander since 2024, didn't mince words on X. "I have the power in Uganda to shut down ANY media house I want to," he wrote, claiming he's held this authority since 2017. "This power was given to me by my great father." He added: "From now on ALL media in Uganda will follow the rules!"
A Crackdown on Nation Media Group
The Daily Monitor is part of the Nation Media Group, headquartered in Nairobi. Kainerugaba's closure directive also targeted NTV, another Nation Media property. The National Association of Broadcasters confirmed that at least six publishing and broadcasting outlets under the Nation Media umbrella were shuttered. "We are deeply concerned about this action and its impact on the media ecosystem," the association said.
Soldiers arrived at the Daily Monitor's offices early Sunday morning. The move came just days after Museveni was sworn in for a seventh consecutive term. Since that ceremony, Kainerugaba has issued a series of directives and orders typically reserved for heads of state, asserting himself as Uganda's de facto ruler.
The Question of Succession
Kainerugaba has made clear he intends to succeed his father in the presidency. That possibility grows more likely as the 81-year-old Museveni, who's ruled Uganda since 1986, relies increasingly on his son's military authority. Museveni has no rivals within the ruling party, which is why many observers believe the military will ultimately decide who comes next. The president hasn't said when he'll retire.
The general attended military schools in the U.S. and Britain before taking charge of a presidential guard unit. He's since expanded that unit into an elite special forces group. Beyond his military duties, Kainerugaba founded the Patriotic League of Uganda, a political activist group whose members include the parliamentary speaker and government ministers.
Retaliation Against Legal Challenges
Earlier this month, Kainerugaba retaliated against a prominent attorney who sought to hold him accountable for his alleged role in violating the rights of opposition leader Kizza Besigye. Besigye was seized in Nairobi in 2024 and has since been imprisoned on treason charges he says are politically motivated. Besigye's attorney, Erias Lukwago, was taken from his house and later charged with an offense related to the concealment of treason.
Kainerugaba's associates describe him as a dedicated military officer who eschews ostentatious displays of wealth. They say he opposes official corruption and would punish it heavily as president. Yet his actions against media outlets and legal advocates suggest a willingness to use state power against perceived opponents.
Why This Matters:
The closure of six media outlets under a single corporate umbrella represents a significant consolidation of military control over Uganda's information landscape. For investors and businesses operating in East Africa, the incident raises questions about institutional stability and the rule of law in a country where military authority now supersedes traditional governmental checks. Nation Media Group, a regional player with headquarters in Kenya, faces operational disruption that could affect its broader East African footprint. The incident also demonstrates how succession questions in long-standing regimes can create unpredictable business environments. With Museveni in his fortieth year of rule and no clear constitutional framework for transition, the military's expanding role in civilian affairs signals potential volatility ahead for Uganda's economic and political institutions.