Uganda Consulting UK and European Allies on Reopening NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor — Muhoozi

KAMPALA, Uganda — A day after ordering the shutdown of Uganda’s largest independent media group, Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has signaled a possible reversal, saying discussions are underway with allies in the United Kingdom and Europe over reopening NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor.

The announcement marks a dramatic shift from Gen. Kainerugaba’s earlier declaration that the Nation Media Group (NMG) outlets had been closed “for good,” a move that drew widespread criticism from journalists, media rights advocates and international observers over its implications for press freedom.

In a post on X, Gen. Kainerugaba wrote: “As comrade @AndrewMwenda said we are having discussions with our allies in the UK and Europe about re-opening both NTV and Daily Monitor. We shall take the results of these discussions to Mzee for final approval.”

His remarks followed an earlier statement by political commentator and Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) leader Andrew Mwenda, who suggested the media houses could soon resume operations after consultations with their management.

Mwenda posted: “I have just held discussions with Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba @mkainerugaba and we, as leaders of PLU, have agreed that we shall reopen both Daily Monitor and NTV soon. However, we shall first have discussions with the management of both sister companies. I will inform them when we can have this meeting.”

The statements come after an extraordinary weekend in which heavily armed security personnel surrounded Nation Media Group’s facilities in Kampala following Gen. Kainerugaba’s overnight social media announcements ordering the closure of NTV Uganda, the Daily Monitor and other NMG platforms, including Spark TV, KFM and Dembe FM.

Broadcasts were interrupted, staff were prevented from accessing offices and several stations went off air.
Before the operation, Gen. Kainerugaba had publicly declared that the outlets would not reopen without his permission and stated that he did not believe in a free press, comments that intensified concerns about media freedom in Uganda.

Nation Media Group, headquartered in Nairobi, is East Africa’s largest independent media company and has operated in Uganda for decades through the Daily Monitor newspaper, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, KFM, Dembe FM and other publications.

The shutdown marked one of the most significant actions against an independent media organization in Uganda since the government’s 2013 closure of the Daily Monitor over reports concerning President Yoweri Museveni’s succession plans.

Despite the apparent softening in tone, no official statement has been issued by the Ugandan government explaining the legal basis for the closure or confirming that the outlets will indeed be allowed to resume operations. Likewise, Nation Media Group had not publicly announced any agreement with the authorities at the time of writing.

Whether the consultations with European partners and discussions with NMG management lead to a reopening remains uncertain.

For now, the fate of one of Uganda’s most influential media organizations appears to rest on negotiations that Gen. Kainerugaba says will ultimately be presented to President Yoweri Museveni—whom he referred to simply as “Mzee”—for a final decision.

Museveni has previously blasted Europeans, accusing them of arrogance and ignorance. (See Details Here, and There).

Museveni also previously vowed to make Daily Monitor bankrupt and demanded an apology, as reported Here and There.

Meanwhile, the Aga Khan sold NMG to a Tanzanian investor months ago, as reported HERE.