African Journalists Condemn Military Storming and Forced Shutdown of Uganda’s Leading Independent Media
The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) strongly condemns the military shutdown of Uganda’s three leading independent media organisations, Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda and Spark TV, following orders issued by the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Acting on his orders, armed military personnel this morning raided and occupied the premises of the three media houses, barred journalists and other media workers from accessing their workplaces and forced their television and radio stations off air. This military operation represents a blatant assault on independent journalism, media freedom and the public’s right to receive information, and marks a dangerous escalation in the use of state power to silence the independent media.
FAJ, together with its regional affiliate, the Federation of Eastern Africa Journalists (FEAJ), considers the military operation a dangerous escalation in the systematic suppression of independent media and a deliberate attempt to prevent journalists from carrying out their professional duties. The deployment of soldiers to silence media organisations is an alarming abuse of state power that has no place in any democratic society. By shutting down Uganda’s principal independent media outlets, the authorities have denied millions of citizens access to independent and credible information and created a climate of fear designed to discourage critical journalism.
Reacting to these repressive actions, FAJ President Omar Faruk Osman said, “What is unfolding in Uganda today is a naked assault on media freedom in broad daylight. The deployment of soldiers to storm and shut down Uganda’s leading independent media houses is one of the clearest manifestations of authoritarian rule and the deepening culture of impunity that now silences the few remaining foundations of democratic governance in the country. Journalists are not criminals; newsrooms are not battlefields and the military has absolutely no role in deciding which media organisations are permitted to operate.”
“The forced closure of Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda and Spark TV is a flagrant violation of freedom of expression, media freedom and the public’s fundamental right to receive information. We demand the immediate and unconditional reopening of these media houses, the withdrawal of all military personnel from their premises and an end to every form of intimidation, harassment and persecution of journalists. No government can suppress the truth through force. History has repeatedly demonstrated that the truth cannot be silenced at gunpoint,” declared Osman.
The Pan-African organisation expresses its full solidarity with its affiliate, the Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) and with the journalists and all other media workers affected by these repressive actions. The Federation pays tribute to their professionalism, courage and determination to continue serving the public despite intimidation and threats. An attack on journalists in Uganda is an attack on journalists across Africa, and the African media community stands in full solidarity in defence of its colleagues.
The Federation calls upon the Ugandan authorities to immediately and unconditionally reopen Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda and Spark TV, restore all broadcasting services, withdraw military personnel from media premises and allow journalists and media workers to resume their professional duties without intimidation or interference. It further calls on the African Union (AU), East African Community (EAC), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and United Nations (UN) to publicly condemn this attack and to swiftly engage the Ugandan authorities and press for the immediate restoration of independent media operations.
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