By Tim Cocks

KAMPALA, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Uganda's presidency ordered a publishing house on Friday not to print the first edition of a new newspaper if it is critical of President Yoweri Museveni, the paper's owner and the publisher said.

A presidential spokesman said he knew of no such order.

Andrew Mwenda, a feisty former talk show host with the Monitor FM local radio, said his new weekly The Independent was due to be launched on Saturday.

"They were called by State House and told not to print the newspaper, especially if it contains anything critical of the government," Mwenda told Reuters. "I was speechless."

An executive at the publisher, Industrial Graphics Ltd. said he had received a letter from State House.

"I have a letter with instructions not to print anything that conflicts with the government," Nassir Musosi said, adding that he feared his licence could be taken away.

Presidential spokesman Tamale Mirundi said he had no knowledge of such a letter or call. "I don't think the president can stop a newspaper that isn't even yet published," he said. "They just want publicity."

Uganda enjoys a relatively free and lively press compared with many countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

The independent Daily Monitor sometimes publishes scathing reports and comment, and has carried stories on government corruption scandals from controversial procurement contracts to land giveaways. (Editing by Daniel Wallis and Philippa Fletcher)