Former Uganda Media Centre Executive Director and government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo has reignited debate over press freedom after publicly acknowledging his role in the controversial 2013 shutdown of Daily Monitor and the government’s actions against several prominent journalists.
Speaking during a recent edition of Capital Gang on Capital Radio in July 2026, Opondo reflected on the events that led to the closure of Daily Monitor and the temporary suspension of its affiliated radio stations, admitting that he was part of the government’s response at the time.
The crackdown followed the publication of a leaked letter authored by Gen. David Sejusa, which alleged the existence of the so-called “Muhoozi Project”—a purported plan to prepare President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to succeed him. The letter also claimed there were assassination plots targeting individuals opposed to the alleged succession plan.
Following the publication, security agencies raided Daily Monitor‘s headquarters, halted newspaper production, and shut down its affiliated radio stations, drawing widespread condemnation from local and international media freedom organizations.
During the discussion, Opondo also referred to the government’s actions against senior journalists including Charles Onyango-Obbo, Daniel Kalinaki, and Andrew Mwenda, whose reporting and commentary had frequently put them at odds with the state.
His remarks have resurfaced at a time when relations between sections of Uganda’s media and the government are once again under scrutiny, particularly following recent tensions involving Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Nation Media Group outlets.
The resurfaced video has generated mixed reactions online.
Ofwono Opondo proudly states that he was directly involved in the 2013 closure of Monitor Publications over its publication of the Gen Sejusa “Muhoozi project” letter.
He also takes pride in the fact that Charles Onyango-Obbo and Daniel Kalinaki were effectively forced into… pic.twitter.com/J6XNXHvL0r
— Wilfred Businge (@MrBusinge) July 4, 2026
