NTV Uganda and Spark TV were forced off air by around 5:00am on Sunday following an overnight security operation at Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda’s headquarters in Namuwongo and at Kampala Serena Hotel, after Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced that the media group’s outlets would be shut down.
Viewers tuning in to NTV Uganda and Spark TV were met with blank screens displaying the message, “Video unavailable.” Questions also remained over the operations of NMG’s other platforms, including the Daily Monitor, which Gen. Muhoozi had also singled out in a series of late-night posts on X.
The security operation reportedly began shortly after midnight, with security personnel deployed at the NMG premises in Namuwongo. Staff inside the compound said no one was being allowed to enter or leave during the operation.
The deployment came after Gen. Muhoozi published a series of posts on X in which he declared that NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor would be shut down and banned from covering President Yoweri Museveni.
“NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today!” Gen. Muhoozi posted at 1:07am.
In a subsequent post, he added: “Both NTV and Monitor will not re-open without my permission.”
Earlier, he had also written: “In Uganda, I DO NOT believe in a free press! The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution.”
The remarks marked a significant escalation after several days of repeated threats against Nation Media Group, during which Gen. Muhoozi claimed he was awaiting permission from President Museveni before taking action against the media house.
Nation Media Group Uganda owns several media outlets, including NTV Uganda, Spark TV, the Daily Monitor, The EastAfrican, 93.3 KFM, 90.4 Dembe FM, Ennyanda newspaper and Nation Courier, among other media investments.
Despite the heavy security deployment, NTV Uganda and Spark TV initially remained on air throughout much of the operation. At around 4:45am, nearly four hours after the security deployment began, NTV Uganda was still broadcasting an Al Jazeera simulcast.
Shortly afterwards, both television stations went off air.
Radio stations 90.4 Dembe FM and 93.3 KFM also appeared to stop broadcasting during the operation, although authorities had not immediately provided an explanation.
By daybreak, security personnel were still deployed at the NMG premises in Namuwongo and at Kampala Serena Hotel. Staff inside the premises said movement remained restricted.
As of publication, neither the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the Uganda Police Force nor the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) had issued an official statement explaining the operation or announcing any legal directive ordering the closure of the broadcaster or newspaper.
It also remained unclear how long the blackout would last. Nation Media Group Uganda, which employs more than 500 people in the country, had not yet released an official statement.
Previous Raids
The latest operation is not the first time Nation Media Group Uganda has faced action by state authorities.
In May 2013, police raided the Daily Monitor and Dembe FM following the publication of a letter allegedly linking senior government officials to a succession plan commonly referred to as the “Muhoozi Project.” The premises remained closed for more than a week before operations resumed after the company signed police search certificates and related documents.
Earlier, in February 2007, barely two months after NTV Uganda launched in December 2006, the broadcaster was temporarily taken off air following accusations by government officials that its news coverage was negative.
Over the years, President Museveni has also repeatedly criticised the Daily Monitor, at one point describing it as an “enemy and evil newspaper” over its editorial coverage.
Despite previous confrontations with the authorities, Nation Media Group Uganda has consistently maintained its commitment to independent, public-interest journalism, describing itself as “Uganda’s Bold Voice.”
Past raids on the media house attracted widespread condemnation from local and international media freedom organisations and human rights groups.
About Nation Media Group
Nation Media Group is the largest independent media organisation in East and Central Africa, with operations spanning print, broadcast and digital media.
The group operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, and is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Uganda Securities Exchange, Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange and Rwanda Stock Exchange.
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