A day after armed soldiers raided their premises and forced them off air and out of print, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and the Daily Monitor are actively delivering content through their digital platforms. While physical access to their offices is still restricted, the outlets have maintained a strong online presence, posting news updates, program clips, and engaging directly with viewers on social media.
The Daily Monitor, for its part, has continued publishing a full slate of stories on its website, maintaining its usual editorial output. Most articles remain freely accessible to the public, while some premium content sits behind a paywall, which is consistent with the paper’s standard practice. However, the newspaper’s e-paper edition was not released on Monday.
On Monday, Spark TV leaned into the situation with humorous, resilient messaging. In one widely shared video clip, a presenter jokingly attempts to turn on a television set, only to be stopped by a colleague who says, “Don’t disturb the TV. We have migrated from there. We are now on social media. That is where you will find all our programming.”
NTV Uganda has adopted a similar approach, shifting much of its output to digital platforms. The station has continued publishing short videos and news updates across its social media channels to keep audiences engaged despite the disruption to its broadcasts. The stations explicitly directed audiences to look no further than their social media platforms, where they pledged to deliver full programming, news bulletins, and other content. Both NTV and Spark TV accounts showed high activity levels throughout the day, with increased follower interaction.
This digital pivot follows an official statement issued by Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda on Sunday, June 28, 2026. The company confirmed that an overnight military raid had rendered its premises at Namuwongo (Daily Monitor headquarters) and the Kampala Serena International Conference Centre inaccessible, with reports of power disconnections and restricted movement. Despite this, NMG assured stakeholders that “while our offices are closed, we will continue to keep you engaged and informed through our digital platforms.”
As of Monday morning, the Daily Monitor headquarters in Namuwongo remained under heavy military guard. However, at NTV’s offices at Serena, the military presence has reduced compared to what was witnessed on Sunday. One worker at Serena said soldiers were still deployed in large numbers, although they were no longer as visible as they were the previous day.
“The place also has a hotel and other offices which have not been affected by the shutdown, but NTV remains closed, and no one is allowed to access the offices. The military is still here, although they are not inside the compound like they were yesterday,” the worker said. At the entrance, only four soldiers were seen seated, keeping watch near the western gate of the hotel.
The shutdown was ordered by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni. In a series of posts on X starting late Saturday and into Sunday, Gen. Muhoozi announced the closure, stating that NTV Uganda, the Daily Monitor, and associated outlets would not reopen without his permission. No specific incident or story was publicly cited as the immediate trigger, though NMG outlets have a track record of independent reporting that has occasionally irked authorities.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) said it was consulting government agencies and preparing a statement but provided no immediate justification for the military action. The move has sparked widespread condemnation from press freedom organizations, opposition figures, and international observers, who describe it as a severe setback for media freedom. Journalists’ federations and regional broadcasters have voiced strong concerns.
Late on Sunday, indications of backchannel talks emerged. Journalist Andrew Mwenda announced that discussions with Gen. Muhoozi had led to an agreement in principle to reopen the outlets, pending further engagement with NMG management. Gen. Muhoozi referenced ongoing consultations with “allies in the UK and Europe,” expected to give final approval.
As of Monday, however, no firm reopening timeline had been confirmed, and Daily Monitor lawyers of Nangwala, Rezida & Co. Advocates (NARE) stated that they are not yet privy to the reported talks. A representative noted that the firm had not received any instructions from their client on the matter. Attempts by our reporter to reach NMG Uganda and Daily Monitor for comment were unsuccessful-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
