States vs media:  East African Press Councils call for an end to 'hostility'

The councils said the heightened public intimidation and profiling of the media and journalists by those wielding State power is creating fear among journalists while promoting self-censorship in the media.

"This violates constitutional, regional and global human rights State obligations, including denial to right to access information and endangering the lives of journalists," read the EAPC statement signed by its Chairperson David Omwoyo, who is also the Media Council of Kenya CEO.

On Sunday morning, NTV Uganda, Spark TV and KFM FM were forced off air by 5:00am on Sunday after an overnight security crackdown at Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda premises in Namuwongo and Kampala Serena Hotel, following a shutdown order by the first son and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba against the media group's outlets.

NTV Uganda and Spark TV viewers were met with blank screens displaying the message “video unavailable”, while uncertainty surrounded the operations of NMG's other platforms, including the Daily Monitor, which Gen Muhoozi had also targeted in his late-night declarations.

The security operation began shortly after midnight, with personnel deployed at the NMG premises and staff reporting "that no one was being allowed to enter or leave the compound."

The deployment followed a series of posts on X by Gen Muhoozi in which he declared that NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor would be shut down amid a long-term ban from covering his father, President Museveni. 

This has also attracted condemnation from the Kenya Union of Journalists and the Easter Africa Journalists' Federation (EAJF).

" We wish to remind Gen Muhoozi that terrorising the media is no solution to challenges the country is facing and fast fading public trust in President Museveni regime. World over, even in the worst dictatorship regimes, the media will always prevail and will live to tell the story," said EAJF president Eric Oduor, while expressing solidarity with the journalists in Uganda who are facing State reprisals due to "their good work of openly leading conversations against the rule by iron fist". 

In Kenya, there is an ongoing public spat between the President and the Standard Group, in what EAPC says could be a result of political difference between the Head of State and one of the investors in the media group.

While calling out the media for defending themselves against the attacks using “harsh words and strong positions”, the press councils urged all parties to exercise restraint and resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.

It states that the media represents a significant economic investment across the region where journalists have a duty to professionally and responsibly report on matters of public interest, even when such reporting may be uncomfortable, irritating or inconvenient to those in public office.

“Continued attacks on press freedom—including assaults on journalists, intimidation of media practitioners and forced closures of media enterprises—erode the gains made in nurturing a free, responsible and accountable media. Such actions should not occur in countries that have committed to upholding the rule of law,” the council said.

“We call for respect and upholding of media freedom and protection from any form of harassment and intimidation on one hand and on the other urge the media to practice restraint and responsibility in its public watchdog role.”

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