Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has met with the leadership of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda to discuss the ongoing closure of its outlets, which include NTV Uganda, Spark TV, KFM, Dembe FM and the Daily Monitor.
The meeting, which took place at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe, was attended by NMG owner Rostam Aziz and his son Saam Aziz, alongside Georgia Mutagaywa, the Chief of Staff of Taarifa Limited, the parent organization of NMG. Veteran journalist and Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) leader Andrew Mwenda also attended, alongside Acting UPDF/Defence Public Information Director, Col. Chris Magezi.
The shutdown was instituted on the orders of the CDF, who cited a sustained blackmail campaign by the media group against the government of Uganda and its leadership, alongside promoting opposition and foreign interests at the expense of Uganda. The closure began on 28th June, when armed security personnel surrounded NMG premises and forced major outlets off air.
During the deliberations, specific instances of what the government deems biased and malicious reporting were reviewed. The NMG ownership committed to adopting a more patriotic, balanced, and objective approach to their journalism moving forward.
Gen. Kainerugaba announced via his social media channels that he will present a formal report on the discussions to the President for consideration before a final decision on reopening the premises is made.
The meeting is part of an ongoing dialogue to resolve the standoff between the media group and the government. No timeline for the reopening of the outlets was provided, and NMG premises remain under military occupation.
The closure of NMG Uganda has drawn widespread condemnation from local and international media freedom organisations. The outlets affected include NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Daily Monitor, KFM, and Dembe FM, which together employ hundreds of people and serve millions of Ugandans daily.
The government has justified the shutdown as a “security-led inquiry,” but has not provided details of any legal order or formal charges. The meeting between Gen. Muhoozi and NMG owners represents the first significant step toward resolving the standoff, but it remains unclear whether the government will lift the blockade or whether the media group’s commitments will be sufficient to secure a reopening.
