Media fraternity rallies behind Nation Media Group as shutdown sparks press freedom debate

A pre-dawn military raid on Nation Media Group’s (NMG) Uganda offices has plunged the country’s press freedom debate into crisis, after the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, publicly claimed personal authority to shut down any media house in Uganda and declared that NTV and Daily Monitor “are closed for good.”

The raid, carried out at around 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, hit NMG’s premises on Plots 29/35, 8th Street, Industrial Area in Namuwongo, Kampala, as well as the Kampala Serena International Conference Centre. Power to the buildings was cut and operations were disrupted across NMG’s full stable of platforms — Daily Monitor, NTV, Spark TV, KFM, Dembe FM, the East African newspaper, and Ennyanda.

In a statement issued the same day, NMG management confirmed that its offices had been “rendered inaccessible” by the overnight operation, leaving its radio, television and newspaper operations disrupted. The company said it would keep audiences informed through its digital platforms while pledging further updates “as the situation develops.”

“I do not believe in a free press” — Muhoozi

The shutdown order, according to multiple statements from media bodies, was communicated through a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) from an account linked to Gen. Muhoozi. In the posts, the CDF said he had secured approval from “Mzee”, a reference widely understood in Uganda to mean President Yoweri Museveni, to close both NTV and Monitor, declaring that the move was being actioned “immediately.”

He went on to say that all unfavourable reporting about Uganda would henceforth require clearance from his office, and stated bluntly that he does not believe in a free press, arguing instead that media should be “guided by cadres of the revolution.”

He further claimed that the power to shut down any media house in the country had been his since 2017, attributing it to an authority passed down by his father, President Museveni. In a later post, he suggested NTV and Monitor were losing an estimated $5 million a day as a result of the closure, calling this “good news.”

Neither NTV nor Daily Monitor had been granted permission to reopen as of the time of this report, with Gen. Muhoozi stating that this would not happen without his personal authorization.

Media bodies sound the alarm

The CDF’s statements and the raid itself triggered swift condemnation from journalism and broadcasting associations across the country.

The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) said it was “deeply concerned” by the shutdown, warning that it threatened the jobs of numerous journalists and media practitioners, some of them UJA members, who depend on NMG for their livelihoods.

The association argued that the closure undermines press freedom guarantees under Articles 29(1)(a) and 41 of the Constitution, and risks eroding gains the ruling NRM/NRA government itself has championed under its original ten-point programme.

UJA said it was seeking engagement with Parliament’s leadership, the ICT and Justice ministries, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), and Gen. Muhoozi himself, while also coordinating a joint response with other media advocacy bodies.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), whose membership includes NTV, Spark TV, Dembe FM, KFM, Daily Monitor and the East African, issued a holding statement saying it was “closely monitoring” the situation and had taken note of the CDF’s social media posts indicating the stations would not reopen without his permission.

NAB said it was formally engaging the Ministry of ICT, the UCC and the Office of the Chief of Defence Forces to seek clarity and pursue what it called “an amicable resolution,” while citing concerns over the impact on rights protected under the 1995 Constitution.

The Independent Online Journalists Association of Uganda (Indoja-U) framed the shutdown in starker terms, describing the media as a vital “bridge” between government and citizens. Indoja-U President Andrew Irumba Katusabe said that when that bridge collapses, the public loses a critical channel for accountability and transparency, not just to the detriment of journalists, but to the country’s broader national interest.

The association urged the government, the ICT and National Guidance ministry, the UCC and the CDF to urgently facilitate dialogue leading to NMG’s reopening, while also highlighting the human cost: hundreds of journalists, technicians, producers and support staff now facing income uncertainty.

The Mayuge District Journalists Platform added its voice from outside the capital, noting “with concern” reports of the military raid and calling on security agencies to respect press freedom and follow lawful procedure in any future engagement with media institutions. The platform urged dialogue over confrontation and appealed for calm from all sides.

Regulator says it is “consulting”

For its part, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) issued a public notice acknowledging that NTV, Spark TV, Dembe FM and KFM had gone off air.

The Commission said it had begun consultations with “relevant government stakeholders” to establish verified information, and asked the public to remain calm while those consultations continued. UCC did not address the CDF’s claims directly, nor indicate when, or whether, the affected stations might be permitted to resume broadcasting.

What’s next?

As of Sunday evening, NMG’s outlets remained off air, with reopening contingent, by the CDF’s own account, on his personal approval. Media associations had begun separately reaching out to government and regulatory officials, but no indication had emerged of a coordinated state response beyond the UCC’s holding notice.

The episode marks one of the most direct assertions of military authority over a private media house in Uganda’s recent history, and is likely to intensify scrutiny, domestically and internationally, of press freedom conditions ahead of any further government comment.