While scrolling through X recently, I landed on a tweet about a meeting between the new owner of National Media Group, Rostam Aziz, with Uganda’s CDF Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda at Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe, Wakiso District. |
The meeting was about the closure of Nation media’s outlets, and conditions under which they could be reopened. I instantly got worried as a subscriber of Daily Monitor and a strong advocate of press freedom and independent media of what the bold publication will become next in case they abide by all the terms and conditions set before them by Muhoozi Kainerugaba on behalf of the NRM regime.
It’s sad to predict that the once free and independent Daily Monitor and NTV will likely go into a discretionary self-censorship. It’s also possible that the inevitable terms and conditions will not only affect the former Aga Khan Media outlets, but will also antagonise the whole information value chain in editorial and broadcasting newsrooms across the spectrum.
Abiding by the given terms and conditions heavily threatens the entire fourth estate from holding power to accountability and, henceforth, the vanishing of independent media and press freedom in Uganda.
Indeed, my worries were confirmed after listening to Andrew Mwenda – a close ally of CDF Muhoozi Kainerugaba disclosing the June 30 meeting details that included the terms and conditions tabled before Rostam Aziz.
Mwenda disclosed that “Commander Muhoozi presented a report alleging bias, false and inaccurate reporting and activism done by the NMG media outlets against the NRM government.”
Mwenda further disclosed that for the outlets to open again, they must carry out an institutional overhaul, dismiss some editorial staff and change the methods of work. Some of the terms and conditions included overhauling top management and editorial teams, which have made the publication one of the country’s best media outlets.
However, much as the regime accuses Daily Monitor and NTV of being biased and unbalanced in its reporting, it is not true. Right-thinking Ugandans and sober netizens know that these accusations against the outlets are false and vindictive, especially after the standoff between the NRM and NMG during the January 2026 general elections.
Without prejudice, Daily Monitor and NTV have reported about numerous government programmes and the benefits they have created for the population. The same media outlets also, without fear of contradictions, have equally reported on wastage of tax payers’ money, poor roads and healthcare facilities, constitutional erosion, corruption scandals, election malpractices, human rights violations under the NRM regime.
Daily Monitor and NTV have been truthful, accurate, balanced and unbiased. However, by the publication and broadcaster holding power to account, some people in government have been irritated by this media scrutiny.
Every independent media and free press has a duty to question any form of atrocities, bad governance, poorly managed infrastructure development projects and human rights violations that denigrate human dignity. This is what Nation Media Group is being witch-hunted for.
History reminds us that silencing dissenting voices and press freedom has never made any nation stronger. Either way, the nation will face the hard conversations sooner rather than later.
The real test of any country that is intentional about growing its democracy and constitutionalism, is how it reacts to the truth and dissenting voices. Regrettably, this remains a big test for Uganda and other nations that have haunted and shut down press freedoms.
Traditional media is already suffering from the growth of social media and Artificial Intelligence, cyber harassment of journalists, high cost of business with low returns on investments, low pay of journalists, draconian laws and regulations fueling censorship in editorial and newsrooms.
Unfortunately, censoring Daily Monitor and NTV will totally mark the death of democracy in Uganda and usher in a rebirth of totalitarianism. It will be tragic for Uganda’s slow progress towards democratization if Daily Monitor and NTV give in to the set unrealistic authoritarian terms and conditions.
It will also mark a total erosion of press freedom in Uganda. I appeal to tycoon Rostam Azizi to emulate the late Aga Khan who stood firm against such authoritarian intimidations and political interferences that independent media and press freedom is facing today.
Rostam Aziz should bank on United States Senate on foreign relations, United Kingdom’s House on Foreign Affairs and United Nations Secretary General that have issued strong statements demanding Uganda to respect press freedoms. It’s either press freedom or nothing.
The writer is a sustainable development analyst.
