Security personnel were deployed to the premises of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda in Namuwongo and Kampala Serena Hotel in the early hours of Sunday, with staff reporting that no one was being allowed to enter or leave the compound as uncertainty mounted over the operations of the country’s largest independent media house.
The deployment followed a series of late-night posts on X by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba declaring that NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor were due to be shut down.
“NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today!” Gen Muhoozi decreed in a 1:07am post.
He followed with another post stating: “Both NTV and Monitor will not re-open without my permission.”
In another post, he had earlier said: “In Uganda, I DO NOT believe in a free press! The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution.”
The remarks marked an escalation of threats made over the past week, during which Gen Muhoozi repeatedly claimed he was awaiting permission from his father, President Museveni, before moving against the media house that employs hundreds.
In Uganda, NMG owns NTV Uganda, the Daily Monitor, Spark TV, KFM, Dembe FM, Ennyanda newspaper, and the Nation Courier, among other major media platforms and investments.
By daybreak on Sunday, security personnel remained deployed at the NMG premises in Namuwongo and Serena Hotel, with staff inside reporting they were unable to move in or out as the operation continued.
Dembe FM and KFM appeared to have gone off air while the operation was underway, although the reason was not immediately clear. However, at 3:38 a.m. local time, NTV was still broadcasting an Al Jazeera simulcast despite the siege.
Neither the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, the Uganda Police Force nor the Uganda Communications Commission had immediately issued a formal statement explaining the operation or announcing any legal order affecting the broadcaster or newspaper.
Nation Media Group had also not issued an official statement by the time of publication.
#Developing story…
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