Military Maintains Siege on NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor as Reopening Talks Emerge

KAMPALA — Security forces remained deployed at the headquarters of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda on Monday, with operations at NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, Spark TV, KFM and other affiliated platforms still disrupted following a military shutdown ordered over the weekend.
The continued security presence comes as signs emerged that discussions aimed at resolving the standoff are underway. Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba indicated that talks were taking place with veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda, raising hopes that the affected media outlets could soon resume operations.
The shutdown began in the early hours of Sunday after armed security personnel surrounded NMG’s premises in Namuwongo, Kampala, preventing staff from accessing their offices. Television broadcasts were taken off air while newspaper production and other media operations were brought to a standstill.
Gen. Muhoozi publicly announced the closure through his social media platforms, stating that he had ordered the suspension of the media houses. However, authorities have not formally disclosed the legal basis for the military action, and the Uganda Communications Commission had yet to issue a comprehensive statement explaining the shutdown.
Andrew Mwenda later confirmed that he had engaged Gen. Muhoozi in discussions regarding the reopening of the affected outlets, expressing optimism that the impasse could be resolved through dialogue. Despite the ongoing talks, security personnel remained stationed at the media company’s premises as of Monday.
The closure has drawn widespread criticism from journalists, civil society organisations and media freedom advocates, who argue that the shutdown raises serious concerns about press freedom and the independence of the media in Uganda. Several organisations have called for the immediate restoration of broadcasting services and unrestricted access to the media house.
Nation Media Group has acknowledged that the military operation severely disrupted its operations, affecting television, radio, print and digital news platforms. The company has yet to announce when normal services will resume.
The incident marks one of the most significant confrontations between Uganda’s security agencies and an independent media organisation in recent years, reviving concerns over the operating environment for journalists and media houses.
As negotiations continue behind the scenes, attention remains focused on whether the discussions will lead to the lifting of the military deployment and the restoration of broadcasting and publishing operations at one of Uganda’s largest independent media organisations.

Source DAILY MONITOR