NTV Uganda and Spark TV went off air in the early hours of Sunday after security personnel carried out an overnight operation at the Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda offices in Namuwongo, Kampala.
The developments followed several posts by Gen. Muhoozi announcing that the media houses would be closed, amid what he described as increasingly critical coverage from the outlets.
In one of the posts, President Yoweri Museveni’s son wrote: “Mzee has approved my plan to close both NTV and Monitor. We are moving immediately!”
Gen. Muhoozi also stated that media coverage concerning Uganda would henceforth require clearance from his office, saying: “From now on ALL bad stories about Uganda have to be cleared by my office!”
He further wrote that he does not believe in a free press and added that “the press should be guided by cadres of the revolution.”
In another post, the CDF asserted that he has had the authority to shut down any media house in Uganda since 2017, attributing that authority to President Yoweri Museveni.
“I have the power in Uganda to shut down ANY media house I want to. I have had this power since 2017. This power was given to me by my great father President @KagutaMuseveni. NTV and Daily Monitor are learning about it today,” he posted.
In a separate post, Gen. Muhoozi said that NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor would remain closed until he authorises their reopening.
“Both NTV and Monitor will not re-open without my permission,” he wrote.
Nation Media Group Uganda operates several media outlets, including NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, The EastAfrican, Dembe FM and Spark TV.
The latest developments recall events in May 2013, when security agencies raided the Daily Monitor’s offices following the publication of a letter attributed to then Coordinator of Intelligence Services Gen. David Sejusa. The government at the time said the operation formed part of investigations into the leaked document, while the newspaper’s premises, along with KFM and Dembe FM, were temporarily closed.
As of Sunday morning, there had been no official communication from Nation Media Group Uganda regarding when the affected media outlets would resume normal operations.
VIDEO: Armed soldiers are on guard outside the headquarters of Daily Monitor newspaper in Namuwongo, Kampala.
— Daily Monitor (@DailyMonitor) June 28, 2026
The offices remain under military siege following an order by President Museveni's son and military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to shut down Nation Media Group (NMG)… pic.twitter.com/MLIzhcocu5
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