Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda remained under military siege throughout Sunday, with several armed personnel deployed at its headquarters in Namuwongo and broadcast centers at the Kampala Serena International Conference Centre, nearly a day after an overnight operation forced NTV Uganda and Spark TV off air and disrupted the country’s largest independent media house.
Access to both premises remained heavily restricted, with only a handful of employees who had reported for the overnight shift remaining inside as day broke.
Most staff stayed away after security personnel took over the premises shortly after 1:00am June 28.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NMG said its offices had been rendered inaccessible following what it described as an overnight military raid.
“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.
NMG explained that the operation resulted in the disconnection of electricity and disrupted 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,” the statement added.
The siege followed a series of late-night posts on X by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba declaring that NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor had been shut down.
The remarks marked an escalation of threats made over the past week, during which Gen Muhoozi repeatedly said he was awaiting permission from his father, President Museveni, before taking action against the media house.
In Uganda, NMG owns the 20-year-old NTV Uganda, the Daily Monitor, The East African, Spark TV, 93.3 KFM, 90.4 Dembe FM, Ennyanda newspaper and the Nation Courier, among other media platforms and investments.
As the operation unfolded, NTV Uganda remained on air for several hours despite the military deployment.
At 4:45 a.m., nearly four hours after the siege began, the broadcaster was still carrying an Al Jazeera simulcast.
However, by 5:00 a.m., NTV Uganda and Spark TV had gone off air. Spark TV viewers were met with blank screens displaying the message: “Video unavailable.”
90.4 Dembe FM and 93.3 KFM were taken off air during the operation, although the reason was not immediately clear.
Talks to reopen NMG-Uganda
Later on Sunday, veteran journalist and Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) leader Andrew Mwenda said an agreement had been reached with Gen Muhoozi to reopen NTV Uganda and the nation’s largest independent English-language daily newspaper.
Mwenda is a close ally of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. PLU is a pro-government political movement aligned with President Museveni’s son.
“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.
Less than an hour later, Gen Muhoozi claimed consultations were also being held with international allies before any final decision.
“As Comrade Andrew Mwenda 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,” Gen Muhoozi remarked on his official X handle.
NMG did not immediately comment on the proposed reopening talks.
Earlier, Uganda’s Communications regulator acknowledged that NMG’s broadcast outlets had gone off air and said it had begun consultations with relevant 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.
Media attack condemned
On Sunday, regional media bodies also condemned the developments and called for restraint.
The East African Press Councils (EAPC) urged governments across the region to de-escalate hostilities with the media, saying the shutdown of NMG operations in Uganda, coupled with recent public exchanges between Kenyan President William Ruto and Standard Group Media, reflected growing pressure on independent journalism.
“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.
The East Africa Journalists Federation (EAJF) also condemned the crackdown saying: “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’s regime.”
“World over, even in the worst dictatorship regimes, the media will always prevail and will live to tell the story,” EAJF president Eric Oduor added, expressing solidarity with Ugandan journalists whom he said were facing state reprisals for “their good work of openly leading conversations against the rule by iron fist.”
Museveni government and NMG: History of media disputes
The latest crackdown is the latest in a series of confrontations between the Ugandan authorities and NMG-Uganda, whose outlets have repeatedly come under pressure over their critical editorial coverage.
In February 2007, barely two months after NTV Uganda launched in December 2006, the broadcaster was forced off air by the government 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 following the publication of a letter linked to the so-called “Muhoozi Project”.
President Museveni has also repeatedly criticised the Daily Monitor, at one point referring to it as an “enemy and evil newspaper” because of its critical journalism.
Despite repeated confrontations with authorities, NMG has consistently maintained its commitment to independent, public-interest journalism, describing itself as “Uganda’s bold voice and Truth Everyday.”
About NMG
The Nation Media Group (“NMG” or the “Group”) is the largest independent media house in East and Central Africa with operations in print, broadcast and digital media which attract and serve unparalleled audiences across East Africa.
Today, NMG has operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, and is listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange, the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, the Uganda Securities Exchange, and Rwanda Stock exchange.
