The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) says it is preparing an official statement on the shutdown of Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and other Nation Media Group (NMG) outlets after a military deployment at their premises. The affected media houses were taken off air early Sunday morning after soldiers reportedly deployed at NMG offices in Namuwongo and Serena Hotel, where some of the outlets operate.
UCC spokesperson Ibrahim Bbosa declined to provide immediate details on the regulator’s position or the reasons behind the shutdown, saying a statement was being prepared. “We are going to issue a statement soon…in three hours time. Just wait a little bit,” Bbosa told Uganda Radio Network in a telephone interview.
Under normal regulatory procedures, UCC is expected to issue notices and provide reasons for any sanctions against broadcasters over alleged breaches of licensing conditions or broadcasting standards. The abrupt nature of Sunday’s operation, which involved military deployment instead of a publicly announced regulatory process, has raised questions over the legal basis of the shutdown.
The action followed remarks by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who said he had received approval from President Yoweri Museveni to close the outlets. He had earlier threatened the move in June after NMG platforms reported on the arrest of Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and other issues involving him. By Sunday morning, Daily Monitor offices remained closed, while NTV Uganda and Spark TV were off air. Soldiers were also guarding access points at the Namuwongo premises and the Serena Hotel.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) condemned the shutdown, saying it was seeking clarification on the circumstances surrounding the action. “We are deeply concerned about this action and its impact on the media ecosystem, and the rights enshrined under the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda,” NAB said in a statement.
NAB said it had taken note of statements on the X account associated with Gen. Muhoozi, indicating that the affected media houses would not resume operations without his permission. The association said it was engaging the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, UCC, and the Chief of Defence Forces to establish the facts and seek a resolution. The Institute for Justice and Accountability Uganda (IJAU) also condemned the military deployment, describing it as a threat to press freedom.
The institute, led by exiled Ugandan writer and activist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, said the presence of armed personnel at the media premises violated constitutional protections on freedom of the press and access to information. It called on state institutions to address what it described as interference with media operations-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
