Armed Forces Enforce Total Media Blackout Across Major Ugandan Broadcasters
Armed security forces laid siege to the headquarters of Nation Media Group Uganda overnight on 28 June 2026, forcing leading broadcaster NTV Uganda and Spark TV off the air while halting operations at the influential Daily Monitor newspaper on direct orders from Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the country’s Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni.
By early Sunday morning, viewers tuning into NTV Uganda and Spark TV on platforms such as DSTV encountered blank screens bearing the message “video unavailable.”
Staff at NMG’s Namuwongo premises in Kampala reported being barred from entering or leaving the compound, with soldiers stationed outside the offices and at the Kampala Serena Hotel. Other NMG outlets, including radio stations Dembe FM and KFM, as well as The East African newspaper, were also affected.
Gen. Muhoozi publicly announced the shutdowns in a series of posts on X, declaring shortly after 1 a.m.: “NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today!” He added that the outlets “will not re-open without my permission” and asserted sweeping authority, stating he has held this power since 2017, granted by his father President Museveni.
In further statements, the general made his views on journalism explicit, declaring he does not believe in a free press and that media should be guided by cadres of the revolution. He warned that all media in Uganda must follow the rules and that “bad stories” would require clearance from his office.
The Uganda Communications Commission later issued a public notice acknowledging the situation and stating that it had engaged relevant government stakeholders to obtain verified information. The regulator urged the public to remain calm while consultations proceed and said further updates would be provided once they conclude. No formal regulatory order explaining the legal basis for the action had been issued as of Monday morning.
NMG Uganda, part of the Nairobi-based Nation Media Group, employs hundreds and has operated some of the country’s most prominent independent outlets for two decades. Daily Monitor, launched in 1992, has a history of critical reporting that has previously drawn government ire, including a 2013 police raid over coverage of an alleged “Muhoozi Project” succession plan and a 2007 temporary shutdown of NTV.
The shutdown comes as political tensions heighten, with Uganda approaching the next electoral cycle. Gen. Muhoozi, long viewed as a potential successor to his 81-year-old father who has ruled since 1986, has grown increasingly assertive on social media and in public life. Recent NMG coverage had included features examining his military record, statements, and governance issues.
Human rights groups and opposition figures have long accused the government of repression, including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and restrictions on dissent. Uganda ranks 143rd out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index.
As of this morning, the stations remain off air and access to NMG premises are still restricted. NMG had not issued a detailed public response beyond initial alerts on its platforms.
