Hope for NMG Uganda as Gen Muhoozi begins talks to reopen Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda

Nation Media Group Uganda’s flagship outlets, Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, could soon resume operations after Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba said discussions were underway with allies in the United Kingdom and Europe over reopening the media houses.

The development follows a military raid on the Nation Media Group Uganda premises in Namuwongo early Sunday morning that disrupted newspaper printing, television broadcasts and radio operations.

Gen Muhoozi’s remarks came after veteran journalist and Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) Central Executive Committee member Andrew Mwenda said he had reached an agreement with the military chief to reopen the two media outlets.

“I have just held discussions with Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and we, as leaders of PLU, have agreed that we shall reopen both Daily Monitor and NTV soon. However, we shall first have discussions with the management of both sister companies. I will inform them when we can have this meeting,” Mwenda posted on X.

Gen Muhoozi later shared Mwenda’s remarks, saying consultations had also extended to international partners before a final decision is made.

“As comrade @AndrewMwenda said, we are having discussions with our allies in the UK and Europe about re-opening both NTV and Daily Monitor. We shall take the results of these discussions to Mzee for final approval,” Muhoozi wrote.

The latest statement marks a change from Muhoozi’s earlier posts in which he said he had ordered the closure of the two media outlets and that they would remain shut until he gave approval for their reopening.

Nation Media Group Uganda confirmed that its offices in Namuwongo and the Kampala Serena International Conference Centre had been made inaccessible following an overnight military operation.

“NMG-U wishes to inform our esteemed readers, viewers, listeners and stakeholders that our physical premises on Plots 29/35, 8th Street, Industrial Area at Namuwongo, Kampala, and at the Kampala Serena International Conference Centre have been rendered inaccessible following an overnight raid by the military,” the company said.

The media group said the operation led to the disconnection of electricity, affecting normal operations across its television, radio and newspaper platforms.

“While our offices are closed, we will continue to keep you engaged and informed through our digital platforms,” reads the statement.

The shutdown began at about 1:00 am on Sunday, with armed security officers deployed at the company’s headquarters in Namuwongo and broadcast facilities at the Kampala Serena International Conference Centre.

Most employees stayed away after security officers took control of the premises, leaving only a few staff members who had reported for overnight duties inside.

NTV Uganda remained on air for several hours after the operation began, broadcasting an Al Jazeera simulcast at 4:45 am. By 5:00 am, NTV Uganda and Spark TV had gone off air, while viewers of Spark TV saw blank screens displaying the message: “Video unavailable.”

Radio stations 90.4 Dembe FM and 93.3 KFM were also taken off air during the operation.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) acknowledged that NMG’s broadcast outlets had stopped airing and said it had started consultations with government agencies.

“The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has noted the circumstances that have led to NMG’s outlets going off air. Consultations have begun with the relevant government stakeholders to obtain verified information. The Commission urges the public to remain calm and allow these consultations to proceed,” the regulator said.

The closure attracted criticism from media organisations and rights groups, with the East African Press Councils (EAPC) calling for restraint and warning against actions that affect media freedom.

“This violates constitutional, regional and global human rights State obligations, including denial of the 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.

The East Africa Journalists Federation (EAJF) also condemned the operation, saying, “We wish to remind Gen Muhoozi that terrorising the media is no solution to the challenges the country is facing and the fast-fading public trust in President Museveni’s regime.”

“World over, even in the worst dictatorship regimes, the media will always prevail and will live to tell the story."

The latest incident adds to a long history of disputes between the Ugandan government and Nation Media Group over editorial coverage.

In February 2007, NTV Uganda was taken off the air by the government shortly after its launch in December 2006, following accusations that its coverage was overly negative.

In 2013, police shut down the Daily Monitor, Dembe FM and Red Pepper for more than a week after the publication of a letter linked to the “Muhoozi Project”.

Despite previous confrontations, Nation Media Group has maintained its commitment to independent and public-interest journalism, describing itself as “Uganda’s bold voice and Truth Everyday.”