Following the forced closure of at least six media outlets in Uganda on 28 June 2026 and the arbitrary arrest and detention of scores of human rights activists on the orders of Uganda’s military chief and President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa Tigere Chagutah said:
Authorities must end the erosion of human rights in the country. They must stop subjecting activists to baseless investigations, end the misuse of the criminal justice system to target perceived government critics, and free all those who have been arbitrarily arrested and detained, including Kizza Besigye, Erias Lukwago and Miria Matembe.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for ESARO
“The president’s son continues his unchecked and unjust campaign of harassment and intimidation of independent media and civil society. These latest attacks on media outlets are emblematic of years-long crackdown on freedoms of expression and association in Uganda.
“The military must immediately withdraw from the offices of all media outlets targeted in this disturbing crackdown and immediately cease any interference, intimidation or acts of repression against journalists.
