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Uganda’s media landscape faced renewed pressure on Sunday after the country’s military reportedly shut down several Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda outlets following a directive issued by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The operation affected NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and the Daily Monitor, with armed security officers reportedly deployed to the company’s headquarters in Namuwongo, Kampala, and the Kampala Serena Hotel, disrupting both broadcast and print operations.
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Gen. Muhoozi, who is the son of President Yoweri Museveni, announced the move through his official social media account on June 28, stating that NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor would cease operations immediately.
The directive came only hours after he warned that the two media houses would require President Museveni’s approval before resuming their operations.
According to reports by the Daily Monitor, heavily armed security personnel arrived shortly after midnight and sealed off Nation Media Group’s offices, preventing staff from accessing or leaving the premises.
The operation disrupted television broadcasts, with viewers of NTV Uganda and Spark TV waking up to blank screens displaying a “video unavailable” message.
NTV Uganda later confirmed that its broadcasts went off air at around 5 a.m. local time and shared images showing security personnel stationed outside its offices while announcing that its operations had been suspended.
Reports also indicated that employees remained confined within the premises as security officers maintained a heavy presence, affecting the publication of the Daily Monitor, one of Uganda’s leading independent newspapers.
Nation Media Group, headquartered in Kenya, owns several media outlets in Uganda, including NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Daily Monitor, The East African, KFM, Dembe FM, Ennyanda newspaper, and Nation Courier.
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The shutdown drew criticism from opposition leader Bobi Wine, who accused Gen. Muhoozi of acting with the support of President Museveni to suppress independent media.
Bobi Wine described the action as another sign of increasing authoritarianism, claiming that military force was being used to silence critical voices and weaken press freedom in the country.
The latest developments follow a series of public statements by Gen. Muhoozi in which he announced a long-term ban preventing the affected media outlets from covering President Museveni.
