Muhoozi Signals Talks to Reopen NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor
Kampala — Senior military officer Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has indicated that discussions are underway to reopen NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor, days after security forces surrounded the Nation Media Group (NMG) premises in Kampala.
In a post shared on X, Gen. Muhoozi said consultations were ongoing with allies in the United Kingdom and Europe regarding the reopening of the two media outlets.
“As comrade Andrew Mwenda 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,” he wrote.
The remarks come after veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda, who is also a member of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), said negotiations were in progress between relevant stakeholders and the management of Nation Media Group to facilitate the resumption of operations.
NTV Uganda, which has been on air for more than two decades, is widely regarded as one of the country’s leading independent television stations. Together with its sister publication, the Daily Monitor, the Nation Media Group has built a reputation for objective journalism, investigative reporting and an independent editorial voice. The broadcaster has consistently ranked among Uganda’s most-watched television stations.
Operations at the Nation Media Group offices were disrupted after security personnel surrounded the premises in the early hours of Sunday, at around 1:00 a.m. Security officers have remained deployed at the facility, preventing normal operations.
The closure of NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor triggered widespread debate both within Uganda and internationally, with media rights advocates, journalists and members of the public raising concerns about press freedom and access to independent news.
While Gen. Muhoozi’s statement has raised hopes that the media houses could soon resume operations, no official timeline has been announced. Any reopening is expected to depend on the outcome of the ongoing discussions and the final approval referred to in his statement.
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