States Told to Honour Rule of Law on Press Freedom

(KAMPALA, UGANDA) – The East African Press Councils has urged governments and media across the region to step back from rising confrontation, warning that public intimidation of journalists by state actors is spreading fear and forcing self censorship.

The councils said the growing hostility violates constitutional, regional and global human rights obligations, denies the public access to information and endangers the lives of journalists.

The statement was signed by Chairperson David Omwoyo, who also serves as Media Council of Kenya Chief Executive.

The call followed the forced shutdown of NTV Uganda, Spark TV and KFM FM by 5:00 am Sunday. Security personnel carried out an overnight operation at Nation Media Group Uganda premises in Namuwongo and Kampala Serena Hotel.

The action came after Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordered the outlets closed. Viewers of NTV Uganda and Spark TV saw blank screens carrying the message “video unavailable”.

Uncertainty surrounded the operations of NMG’s other platforms, including the Daily Monitor, which General Muhoozi had also named in his declarations.

The security operation began shortly after midnight. Personnel deployed at the NMG premises and staff reported that no one was being allowed to enter or leave the compound.

The deployment followed a series of posts on X by General Muhoozi in which he said NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor would be shut down and barred from covering his father, President Yoweri Museveni.

The closures drew condemnation from the Kenya Union of Journalists and the Eastern Africa Journalists’ Federation. Federation president Eric Oduor expressed solidarity with journalists in Uganda facing state reprisals for what he called “their good work of openly leading conversations against the rule by iron fist”.

He said terrorising the media was no solution to Uganda’s challenges and fast fading public trust in the Museveni regime. “World over, even in the worst dictatorship regimes, the media will always prevail and will live to tell the story,” Oduor said.

The East African Press Councils also cautioned the media against responding to attacks with “harsh words and strong positions” and urged all parties to exercise restraint and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.

The councils said the media represents a significant economic investment across the region and journalists have a duty to report professionally and responsibly on matters of public interest, even when that reporting may be uncomfortable, irritating or inconvenient to those in public office.

“Continued attacks on press freedom, including assaults on journalists, intimidation of media practitioners and forced closures of media enterprises, erode the gains made in nurturing a free, responsible and accountable media,” the statement said. “Such actions should not occur in countries that have committed to upholding the rule of law.”

The councils called for respect and upholding of media freedom and protection from harassment and intimidation, while urging the media to practise restraint and responsibility in its public watchdog role.