The chairperson of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jim Risch, has called for an immediate review of America’s bilateral relationship with Uganda following the shutdown of two of the country’s leading independent media outlets.
Risch made the remarks after Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, ordered the closure of Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda over allegations of bias in their reporting.
In a statement issued on Monday, June 29, the influential American senator argued that the actions taken against the media represented a serious attack on press freedom and raised concerns about Uganda’s suitability as a strategic security partner for the United States.
“The U.S. needs to review its security relationship with Uganda. General Kainerugaba’s attacks on free speech, including shuttering major media houses this weekend, make him and the UPDF unfit partners,” Risch wrote.
He further added that American partnerships should be guided by shared values and regional security interests.
“We should only work with those who advance regional security, not diminish it,” the senator stated.
Risch’s comments carry significant weight given his position as chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which plays a major role in shaping American foreign policy and overseeing diplomatic and security relationships with countries around the world.
The controversy began on Sunday, June 28, when General Kainerugaba announced through a series of posts on his X account that he had ordered the closure of Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda.
According to the military chief, the two media organisations would remain shut until he personally approved their reopening.
“The Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda will not reopen without my permission,” Kainerugaba declared.
The remarks immediately triggered criticism from media freedom advocates and political observers who viewed the move as a direct attack on independent journalism in Uganda.
Kainerugaba, who is also the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, went even further by openly dismissing the concept of press freedom, arguing that independent media had no place in Uganda.
His comments have since sparked debate both within Uganda and internationally over the future of media freedom and democratic governance in the East African nation.
Both Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda are owned by Nation Media Group, East Africa’s largest independent media company headquartered in Nairobi and listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
Nation Media Group operates several major media brands across the region and is regarded as one of the most influential independent media organisations in East Africa.
According to reports from Daily Monitor, military personnel were deployed to the Nation Media Group headquarters in Kampala following the shutdown order.
The soldiers reportedly blocked staff members from entering or leaving the premises, effectively bringing operations to a halt.
The deployment of security personnel to media offices further heightened concerns among journalists and press freedom organisations regarding the state of freedom of expression in Uganda.
The Uganda media shutdown has attracted attention beyond East Africa, with observers warning that restrictions on independent media could damage the country’s international image and relations with development and security partners.
The United States has long maintained close military and security ties with Uganda, particularly in regional peacekeeping missions and counterterrorism operations across East Africa and the Horn of Africa.
Ugandan troops have played a major role in peacekeeping missions under the African Union as well as regional security operations in countries such as Somalia.
However, Risch’s comments suggest that Washington may reconsider aspects of that relationship if concerns surrounding governance, human rights and freedom of expression continue to grow.
As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the senator holds considerable influence over congressional oversight of foreign assistance, military cooperation agreements and diplomatic engagement with foreign governments.
Any review of relations between Washington and Kampala could therefore have significant implications for future military cooperation and foreign aid arrangements.
The incident also comes at a time when scrutiny of governance and democratic institutions in Uganda has intensified ahead of future political developments in the country.
Media rights groups are expected to continue monitoring the situation closely while urging Ugandan authorities to guarantee journalists the freedom to operate without intimidation or interference.
For now, attention remains focused on whether the two media houses will be allowed to resume operations and whether international pressure will influence the Ugandan government’s response.
The Uganda media shutdown has quickly evolved from a domestic dispute into an international issue with potential diplomatic consequences, placing renewed focus on the balance between national security concerns and the protection of fundamental freedoms.