UCC Clears Nation Media Group Uganda to Resume Operations After One-Month Shutdown

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has formally cleared Nation Media Group (NMG)-Uganda to resume operations, exactly one month after the country’s largest independent media house was shut down in a military operation that disrupted its television, radio and newspaper platforms.

In a July 29 letter addressed to NMG-Uganda Managing Director Susan Nsibirwa, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo wrote: “I am pleased to inform you that I have received instructions from H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda clearing the re-opening of your businesses.”

The regulator’s notice came a day after Taifa Group announced that President Yoweri Museveni had authorised the resumption of NMG’s operations in Uganda, following weeks of high-level engagements involving the President, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and NMG majority shareholder Rostam Azizi.

Azizi’s investment vehicle, Taifa Limited, earlier this year acquired a controlling 54.08 percent stake in Nation Media Group, East Africa’s largest independent media conglomerate.

Announcing the planned resumption of operations, NMG PLC Chairman Joe Muganda said the media house “would remain focused on the delivery of trusted and balanced journalism across all platforms.”

According to NMG-Uganda General Manager Editorial Allan Chekwech, Daily Monitor readers will be able to access the newspaper’s remotely produced e-paper edition and online news updates from 6:00am on Thursday, marking the first phase of the company’s digital restoration.

NTV Uganda will also initially return through its digital platforms, with its flagship 7:00pm Akawungeezi news bulletin expected to stream online on Thursday before the gradual restoration of conventional broadcasting services.

Chekwech said on Wednesday evening that the company would progressively restore all its legacy platforms, including Spark TV, 93.3 KFM and 90.4 Dembe FM, as technical and operational arrangements are completed.

The phased return follows a month of negotiations involving government officials, NMG’s new majority shareholder and the media group’s management.

In a July 28 statement, Taifa Group welcomed the reopening while reaffirming its support for the company’s editorial mission.

“As the majority shareholder of NMG, we fully support the Group’s commitment to fair, balanced, independent and responsible journalism that informs, educates and contributes positively to public discourse. We share the Group’s core mission of positively influencing society and believe that a strong, professional and responsible media plays an important role in supporting national development, good governance and regional integration,” the company said.

NMG’s operations were disrupted shortly after midnight on June 28 when security personnel raided the Daily Monitor headquarters in Namuwongo and the Kampala Serena International Conference Centre, which houses NTV Uganda and Spark TV.

The operation resulted in a power outage that forced NTV Uganda and Spark TV off air at about 5:00am that Sunday. It also disrupted the company’s newspaper operations and radio stations, including 93.3 KFM and 90.4 Dembe FM. Hundreds of staff were denied access to the affected premises.

Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba later said the shutdown was carried out on his orders, citing guidance from President Museveni.

He said the action was prompted by what he described as 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.”

As negotiations progressed, NMG on June 30 temporarily suspended its online operations to create what it described as a conducive environment for high-level discussions aimed at resolving the impasse.

On July 1, Rostam Azizi met Gen Muhoozi at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe. The meeting was also attended by Saam Azizi and Georgia Mutagaywa, Chief of Staff of Taifa Limited, as discussions over the future of the media house continued.

Another breakthrough came on July 17 when President Museveni hosted Azizi at State House Entebbe. Although the President confirmed the meeting in a post on X, he did not disclose what was discussed, fuelling speculation that a resolution was near.

When this reporter visited the Kampala Serena International Conference Centre on July 15, security remained tight, with about 15 armed infantry personnel deployed around the premises, including some carrying what appeared to be sub-machine guns. Access to the Namuwongo headquarters also remained restricted.

By Wednesday evening, it was still unclear when the remaining security personnel would withdraw from the Namuwongo and Serena premises to allow full resumption of operations.

Throughout the shutdown, journalists and other staff were unable to freely access NMG’s offices in Namuwongo and at Serena.

The closure drew concern from regional media organisations and press freedom advocates, who urged the authorities to safeguard media freedom.

NMG Uganda, which has branded itself as “Uganda’s Bold Voice” since the run-up to the 2026 General Election, operates NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, The EastAfrican, Spark TV, 93.3 KFM, 90.4 Dembe FM, Ennyanda newspaper and Nation Courier, among other media platforms.