The affected media outlets include NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Daily Monitor, The EastAfrican, KFM, Dembe FM, Ennyanda and Nation Courier.“As we speak now, the Army is still occupying their premises without any court order and no legal procedures were followed,” Madanda said.
She described the closure as “a military coup against the free press” and alleged that it had been carried out with the approval of President Yoweri Museveni.
Madanda argued that no official explanation had been issued by the Uganda Police Force, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) or the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), which she said had remained spectators despite being the communications sector regulator.
She said the closure was part of what it described as a broader pattern of intimidation against critics of the government, citing alleged abductions, torture, illegal detentions and harassment of opposition members“The closure of NMG outlets is the latest in a sustained pattern of abductions, torture, illegal detentions and targeted harassment of government critics and opposition members carried out primarily by the Army,” Madanda said.
The opposition party accused the government of disregarding constitutional safeguards by allegedly acting without judicial authorization.“No court order has been produced. No due legal process has been followed,” she added.The party further claimed that the latest developments reflected what it described as growing authoritarianism after nearly four decades of President Museveni’s rule.
Madanda said the events reinforced the FDC’s long-held position that democratic institutions had steadily been weakened.She cited Article 3 of Uganda’s Constitution, which places a duty on citizens to defend the constitutional order against attempts to overthrow it, arguing that recent actions against the media and political opponents should concern all Ugandans.
“These actions of shutting down media houses, abducting lawyers, torturing activists, threatening judges and declaring themselves above the law constitute exactly the kind of conduct that Article 3 was written to resist,” she said
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has also called on the government to fast-track the evacuation of Ugandan nationals stranded in South Africa following reports of escalating xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals.
Ms. Madanda welcomed the government’s decision to begin evacuation efforts but urged authorities to expedite the process to protect the lives of Ugandans. Her remarks followed Sunday’s announcement by Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo that the government had initiated plans to evacuate Ugandans from South Africa amid growing reports of attacks and vigilante threats against foreign nationals in several parts of the country.
Madanda said the protection of Ugandan citizens abroad should remain the government’s top priority, warning that any delay in the evacuation exercise could place more lives at risk.“The safety and lives of Ugandans must come first. The worsening security situation requires swift action rather than prolonged diplomatic procedures,” she said.
The government has launched a multi-agency response involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda’s High Commission in South Africa, Uganda Airlines, and other relevant government agencies to facilitate the registration and evacuation of affected Ugandans.Madanda said reports of the death of a Ugandan national in KwaZulu-Natal Province underscore the urgency of the situation and called for immediate action to protect those still at risk.
FDC Prepares for LC Elections ;
Meanwhile, the FDC has directed its district leaders across the country to begin identifying party flag bearers for the forthcoming Local Council I (LC I) and Local Council II (LC II) elections.
Last week, the Electoral Commission released the roadmap for the village elections, which are scheduled to take place between July and August. According to the roadmap, LC I elections will be held on July 28, 2026, while LC II elections are slated for August 10, 2026.Madanda said the party intends to participate fully in the elections and instructed district leaders to identify credible candidates to contest under the FDC banner.
New NEC and Youth League Appointments
The party also announced appointments to fill vacancies in the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Youth League following the departure of former office bearers.
Madanda said the appointments were made by the party president in accordance with the FDC Constitution, in consultation with the NEC Working Committee, and subsequently approved by the National Executive Committee to strengthen the party’s leadership at both national and grassroots levels.
The newly appointed NEC members are:
Hon. Kasozi Ibrahim – Deputy President, Buganda
Hon. Akello Franka – Vice Chairperson, Northern Uganda
Mr. Ssaazi Marlik – Secretary for Works
Miss Lalam Lillian – Deputy Secretary for Works
Kalija Kats – Deputy Secretary General for Research and Policy.
The National Youth League Executive Committee also appointed are ;
Asiimwe Karen – Youth Delegate, Western Region
Masawi Ivan – National Youth League Treasurer
Madanda said the newly appointed leaders have already been sworn in and are expected to assume their responsibilities immediately as the party prepares for upcoming political activities.
By Jako David Waluluka
Author Profile
- Mr. Jacko David Waluluka is another unique entertainment and general investigative news writer, a field he has diligently covered for over fifteen years. He’s also the Chief Administrator at The Investigator. He can easily be reached via [email protected]
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