• Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's military chief, ordered the shutdown of two leading media outlets.
• He stated, "In Uganda, I do not believe in a free press!" via social media.
• Armed soldiers were deployed at Nation Media Group's offices to enforce closures.
• The closure impacts prominent media such as Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda.
• This follows a long history of press restrictions under President Yoweri Museveni's regime.

Uganda's military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also President Yoweri Museveni's son, has ordered the closure of two major media outlets: the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda. Kainerugaba declared he did "not believe in a free press" and that journalists should be "guided by cadres of the revolution," essentially stating that the outlets would "not reopen without my permission," according to Reuters and IndiaTimes.

The closures were enforced by the deployment of military personnel to the media offices, which caused significant disruption. As reported, both outlets were taken off air, alongside other Nation Media Group (NMG) properties, with military guarding their premises in Kampala. Staff were reportedly restricted from entering or leaving the offices, according to Africanews and Al Jazeera.

Kainerugaba's comments and actions echo a troubling pattern for Uganda's press freedom, with the country ranking 143rd out of 180 in the Press Freedom Index. The military chief's declaration has drawn condemnation from opposition leader Bobi Wine and the Committee to Protect Journalists, emphasizing the ongoing brutal environment journalists face in Uganda, as highlighted by Africanews and Al Jazeera.