Uganda Military Shuts Down NTV Uganda, Spark TV And Daily Monitor
Politics Updated: 28 June 2026 09:07 EAT
Photo Courtesy: President Museveni’s son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba who's also Uganda's CDF has ordered the shutdown of NMG's major media outlets in Uganda.
Uganda's media landscape was thrown into uncertainty on Sunday after NTV Uganda, Spark TV and the Daily Monitor were forced off air following a directive issued by the country's Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The shutdown affected some of Uganda's largest privately owned media outlets, with security officers taking control of key transmission facilities and the Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda headquarters in Kampala.
The operation began shortly after midnight when armed security personnel reportedly surrounded the Nation Media Group offices in Namuwongo, Kampala. Employees were prevented from entering or leaving the premises as security officers took control of the compound. At the same time, security teams were deployed to transmission facilities at Kampala Serena Hotel, where television broadcasting equipment is housed.
By around 5 a.m. local time, viewers attempting to watch NTV Uganda and Spark TV found both stations unavailable. The disruption also affected Nation Media Group's radio stations, KFM and Dembe FM, leaving several of the company's broadcasting platforms off air simultaneously.
General Muhoozi announced the shutdown through a series of posts on his official X account. In one of the posts, he declared that "NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today," before adding that the affected media houses would not be allowed to resume operations without his permission.
The military chief further claimed that the decision had been approved by President Yoweri Museveni, saying he had received the President's authorisation before ordering the closure. However, by Sunday, the Ugandan government had not issued any official legal notice, court order or regulatory directive explaining the legal basis for the shutdown.
The closure followed several days of escalating threats by Gen. Muhoozi against Nation Media Group Uganda. Earlier in June, he publicly warned that he intended to switch off the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, saying he was only waiting for approval before taking action.
Nation Media Group Uganda is one of the country's largest independent media organisations. Its portfolio includes the Daily Monitor newspaper, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, KFM, Dembe FM, as well as several digital news platforms that reach millions of readers, viewers and listeners across Uganda.
Founded in 1992, the Daily Monitor has built a reputation as one of Uganda's leading independent newspapers, frequently publishing investigative reports and political coverage. The publication is majority-owned by Kenya-based Nation Media Group, one of East Africa's largest media companies.
The latest shutdown has revived memories of the 2013 closure of the Daily Monitor after it published reports concerning an alleged succession plan involving Gen. Muhoozi. During that incident, police sealed the newspaper's offices and shut down KFM and Dembe FM for about ten days before the outlets resumed operations following a court order.
Media freedom organisations and civil society groups have expressed concern over the latest developments, warning that the shutdown represents a significant escalation in pressure on independent journalism in Uganda. The incident has also raised fresh questions over the extent of military authority in regulating media operations.
As of Sunday, security personnel remained stationed at Nation Media Group premises, while broadcasting services had not resumed. Staff members reported restricted access to the offices, and no official timeline had been provided for restoring television, radio and newspaper operations.
The shutdown has attracted widespread attention across East Africa, with journalists, media organisations and human rights groups closely monitoring developments. By the end of Sunday, NTV Uganda, Spark TV and the Daily Monitor remained off air, with General Muhoozi maintaining that the outlets would not reopen without his approval.
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FELIX MAKONA
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