BREAKING: Uganda Military Shuts Down NTV, Spark TV and Daily Monitor as Troops Surround Nation Media Group Offices
KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has ordered the shutdown of leading independent media outlets NTV Uganda, Spark TV and the Daily Monitor, triggering widespread concern over press freedom after security personnel surrounded the offices of Nation Media Group (NMG) in Kampala on Sunday.
According to Nation Media Group, armed security officers were deployed to the company’s premises in Namuwongo and at its Kampala Serena Hotel studios during the early hours of Sunday, preventing staff from entering or leaving the compounds. The operation reportedly forced NTV Uganda and Spark TV off air, while publication and newsroom operations at the Daily Monitor were disrupted.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, announced the action through a series of posts on social media platform X. In one post, he declared that “NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today,” before later stating that the outlets would not resume operations without his permission.
Viewers attempting to access NTV Uganda and Spark TV on television reported seeing blank screens displaying “video unavailable,” while journalists inside the media house described an atmosphere of uncertainty as heavily armed security personnel maintained a presence around the premises.
Nation Media Group confirmed the developments in a statement and reported that military officers had effectively barricaded its offices. The company said the shutdown had affected television broadcasting, newspaper operations and other media platforms under its Uganda subsidiary.
The military chief also posted comments questioning the role of an independent press, saying he did not believe in unrestricted media freedom and arguing that the press should operate under the guidance of what he described as “cadres of the revolution.” His remarks have sparked criticism from media rights advocates and observers monitoring democratic governance in Uganda.
As of Sunday afternoon, there had been no detailed official explanation from the Ugandan government outlining the legal basis for the closure. Nation Media Group also said it was seeking clarification from the authorities while monitoring the situation affecting its staff and operations.
The shutdown comes at a time when concerns over civic freedoms and media independence in Uganda continue to attract international attention. Rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about restrictions on journalists, opposition politicians and civil society groups, particularly during politically sensitive periods.
Media analysts say the closure of some of Uganda’s most influential independent news outlets could have significant implications for access to information in the country. NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor are among the nation’s most widely followed news platforms, while Spark TV has built a large youth audience through entertainment and current affairs programming.
The situation remains fluid, with journalists, media organisations and international observers closely watching developments. Nation Media Group has indicated that it will continue updating the public as more information becomes available, while the military presence around its Kampala facilities remained in place at the time of publication.
The reported shutdown, the deployment of security forces, and General Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s public statements have been widely reported by Nation Media Group and independently confirmed by Reuters. (reuters.com)
