The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has met with the leadership of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda to discuss the ongoing closure of its outlets, including NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor.
The meeting, held at the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe, was attended by NMG owner Mr. Rostam Aziz and his son, Mr. Saam Aziz, alongside Ms. Georgia Mutagaywa, the Chief of Staff of Taarifa Limited, the parent organization of NMG.
Veteran journalist and Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) leader Andrew Mwenda also attended the meeting, alongside the Acting UPDF/Defence Public Information Director, Col. Chris Magezi.
The meeting follows the recent closure of NMG Uganda’s premises by security forces after armed personnel surrounded the company’s headquarters in Namuwongo and its Serena Hotel offices, forcing NTV Uganda and Spark TV off air while the Daily Monitor’s operations were halted.
The shutdown was instituted on the orders of the CDF, who cited a sustained blackmail campaign by the media group against the Government of Uganda and its leadership, alongside promoting opposition and foreign interests at the expense of Uganda.
During the deliberations, specific instances of what the government deems biased and malicious reporting were reviewed, with the NMG ownership committing to adopting a more patriotic, balanced and objective approach to their journalism moving forward.
The meeting forms part of an ongoing dialogue aimed at resolving the standoff between the government and the media group.
Gen. Kainerugaba later announced through his social media platforms that he will present a formal report on the discussions to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni before a final decision is made on whether to reopen the media house’s premises.
The discussions come two days after Gen. Muhoozi announced on X that NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor had been shut down, stating that the outlets would remain closed until he authorised their reopening.
The shutdown was followed by the deployment of security personnel to Nation Media Group facilities, while the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, Uganda Police Force and Uganda Communications Commission had not publicly announced any legal order authorising the closure at the time.