For many observers of press freedom, Sunday, June 28, 2026, marked a troubling day for the media.

Not because the sun failed to rise in the east, but because, for many viewers in Uganda, television screens went dark where independent journalism is expected to shine brightest.

A newsroom is more than cameras, microphones and studio lights.

It is where governments are questioned, opposition voices are heard, citizens tell their stories and history is recorded in real time.

When that space goes silent, democracy loses one of its most important witnesses.

The events in Uganda have once again placed press freedom at the centre of public debate.

Daily Monitor posted on X that, “NTV Uganda, Spark TV forced off air as Daily Monitor shutdown on Gen Muhoozi order.”

NTV Uganda also stated that, “Military lays siege to Daily Monitor, NTV after Gen Muhoozi orders shutdown.”

General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and son of President Yoweri Museveni, also made a series of public posts on X regarding the matter.

“TV and Monitor are being shut down from today!” he wrote.

In another post, he added:

“Both NTV and Monitor will not reopen without my permission.”

He further stated:

“In Uganda, I DO NOT believe in a free press! The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution.”

Those statements are now part of the public record. As the situation continues to develop, any response from the Ugandan government, regulators, the affected media houses or the courts should equally be considered.

In my view, what happened in Uganda should concern every East African who values constitutional governance.

Whether in Uganda, Kenya or elsewhere, governments and the media will inevitably disagree.

That is neither new nor abnormal. Journalism asks difficult questions. Governments defend their policies. Democracy depends on that tension.

Kenya has experienced similar moments of strained relations between political leaders and media organisations.

Standard Media Group has publicly failed to agree with President William Ruto’s administration over news coverage, while Nation Media Group‘s Ugandan subsidiaries now find themselves at the centre of another major confrontation.

History teaches that societies are better served when corruption, abuse of power, injustice, poverty and impunity are confronted through open institutions, including a free press.

The role of journalism is not to manufacture enemies or allies. It is to gather facts, verify information, provide context and allow citizens to make informed decisions.

Professional journalism does not exist to praise governments, nor does it exist to destroy them. Its primary obligation is to the truth and to the public interest.

Like every institution, media organisations are not beyond criticism. When they make mistakes, they should be corrected.

When they publish inaccuracies, they should be held accountable through lawful and transparent processes.

But disagreement with editorial decisions should never become a substitute for engagement with facts.

Democracy does not become weaker because journalists ask uncomfortable questions. It becomes stronger because those in authority have an opportunity to answer them before the public.

When cameras go dark, governments may silence a broadcast. They do not silence public curiosity.

They do not erase history. They only leave future generations with fewer witnesses to tell the story of their time.

This commentary reflects the information that was publicly available at the time of writing. As official responses and verified facts emerge, public understanding of the events may evolve.