NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor are preparing to reopen after President Yoweri Museveni approved the next steps following consultations over the closure of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda’s operations.
The development follows a series of high-level meetings involving Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, senior officials and Nation Media Group representatives aimed at resolving the standoff that saw soldiers deployed to the company’s Kampala premises. During the discussions, Gen. Muhoozi indicated he would submit a report to President Museveni before a final decision on reopening was made.
The shutdown, which affected Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, KFM, Dembe FM and other NMG platforms, began after Gen. Muhoozi ordered the suspension of the media group’s operations, saying the outlets would remain closed pending his approval. Military personnel sealed off the company’s headquarters, preventing staff from accessing their workplaces.
As negotiations progressed, Nation Media Group confirmed that engagements with Ugandan authorities were underway to secure the restoration of its operations. Company officials said they were working toward a resolution that would allow journalists and other employees to return to work.
The closure sparked widespread concern from media freedom advocates, regional observers and international organisations, who argued that the move represented a significant setback for press freedom in Uganda. The government, however, maintained that the disruption stemmed from an ongoing security inquiry ordered by President Museveni.
With the reopening now expected, attention is shifting to how the country’s largest independent media house will resume broadcasting and publishing after weeks of interrupted operations. The decision marks a significant moment for Uganda’s media landscape, ending one of the most closely watched confrontations between the state and an independent news organisation in recent years.