Nation Media Group Resumes Operations in Uganda After Month-Long Military Shutdown
Kampala / Nairobi – July 28, 2026
Nation Media Group (NMG) has officially resumed operations in Uganda after President Yoweri Museveni authorised the reopening of its broadcast and print platforms.
The Kenya-based media giant’s Ugandan outlets — including the Daily Monitor newspaper, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, KFM and Dembe FM — were shut down on June 28 on orders from Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the president’s son. Security forces surrounded the company’s premises in Namuwongo, Kampala, taking television stations off air and halting newspaper printing.
The reopening follows high-level talks between NMG’s new majority shareholder, Tanzanian businessman Rostam Azizi (of Taifa Group), and Gen. Kainerugaba.
In a statement, Azizi said:
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for this important decision, and to General Muhoozi Kainerugaba for his support throughout the engagement that led to this positive outcome.”
NMG Chairman Joe Muganda added that the company would “immediately begin restoring its operations and rebuilding relationships with audiences, employees and commercial partners,” with a focus on credible, relevant and innovative journalism across print, broadcast and digital platforms.
The shutdown, which lasted exactly one month, had drawn widespread criticism from regional media organisations, press freedom groups and international observers over concerns about media freedom in Uganda.
Neither the Ugandan government nor the military has publicly explained the reason for the original closure or the decision to reverse it.
Operations are now being restored progressively.