KAMPALA, Uganda, May 30 (UPI) -- A Ugandan newspaper said Thursday that security forces vacated their headquarters and journalists were allowed back to work.
The Ugandan Daily Monitor reported that detectives forced at least two radio stations off the air and seized the newspaper's printing presses May 20.
Longtime President Yoweri Museveni is apparently grooming his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to be his predecessor. The Daily Monitor published a letter from a top military general that asks for an inquiry into reports that orders were given to kill anyone who stated opposition to Kainerugaba.
"The police commenced investigations by asking the journalists and the editors of the Monitor to explain how they got the letter and also to avail the letter," a ministry statement published by the newspaper read. "However, the Monitor employees declined to cooperate."
The newspaper reported Thursday that outgoing Internal Affairs Minister Hillary Onek ordered police to vacate the Daily Monitor's offices and journalists should return to work.
Onek's office said police were called off after getting assurances that reporting was fair and objective. Monitor Publications Ltd. said there were violations of its editorial policy and steps were taken to ensure that extra attention was given to stories that may have an impact on national security.
The editors of the Monitor wrote last week that the government should keep in mind that in the digital age of news reporting, "It is impossible to silence criticism by attacking radios and newspapers."
