Uganda shuts down critical media: a blow to press freedom

Published on June 29, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

The government of Uganda has decided to shut down several independent media outlets, justifying the measure with the excuse that it does not trust a free press. This authoritarian act contradicts fundamental democratic principles and leaves citizens without tools to hold power accountable. Informational opacity and inequality deepen, silencing critical voices and weakening accountability.

abandoned printing press room in Kampala, rusty offset printing machine gears stopped mid-rotation, broken conveyor belt hanging loose, smashed computer monitors showing static on screens, cables cut and dangling from ceiling, security padlock snapped on metal cage door, dust particles floating in dim yellow emergency light, newspaper pages scattered on concrete floor with torn edges, photorealistic technical illustration, cinematic wide shot, dramatic shadows from broken ceiling lamps, industrial decay aesthetic, hyper-detailed mechanical components, cold blue ambient light mixing with warm tungsten spot

Technology and censorship: how digital opacity hinders development 🖥️

The lack of an independent press not only affects democracy but also hinders technological innovation. Without verified information, local developers lack data to create solutions in areas such as health or agriculture. Digital censorship, through website blocks and network monitoring, limits access to collaborative tools. To move forward, Uganda needs to restore open channels that allow technical exchange and oversight of state projects.

The perfect dictatorship: shutting down media because you don't like what they say 😅

Sure, it makes perfect sense: if a media outlet criticizes you, you shut it down. It's like if your neighbor complained about your loud music and you, instead of turning it down, removed the battery from their radio. The Ugandan government has discovered the magic formula to end bad news: eliminate the one who tells it. Now all that's missing is banning mirrors so they don't have to see reality. At least self-censorship is free and doesn't require permits.