Armed, masked military personnel have maintained a strict physical blockade on Nation Media Group Uganda (NMGU) premises for a third consecutive day, crippling the country’s largest independent media house.
The siege began at 1:00 AM on Sunday, June 28, when security forces raided and barricaded NMGU’s main headquarters in Namuwongo, alongside its broadcasting centers located at the Kampala Serena Hotel. The ongoing operation has forced major national outlets-including the Daily Monitor newspaper, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, KFM, and Dembe FM-completely out of print circulation and off the airwaves.
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has since confirmed that the shutdown of the media conglomerate was executed with the direct approval of his father, President Yoweri Museveni. Gen. Muhoozi noted that he is currently locked in talks with veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda, leader of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU)-a pro-government political movement aligned with the CDF-to negotiate a potential reopening of the media house.
“The shutdown marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Ugandan government and the independent press, drawing widespread local and international concern over deteriorating media freedoms in the country.”
As of Tuesday morning, a heavy military presence remains deployed at both Kampala locations. Armed soldiers are actively enforcing a strict perimeter, waving off pedestrians, and denying all staff access to the buildings.
Despite its physical infrastructure being under military occupation, NMGU management stated that the company is adapting to the aggressive state restrictions. To circumvent the broadcast and print blackout, the media house is actively distributing breaking news, updates, and digital broadcasts through its various online channels.
Uganda has a documented history of state-led crackdowns on independent journalism, particularly targeting outlets like the Daily Monitor during politically sensitive periods. This latest escalation underscores the precarious environment for press freedom under President Museveni’s long-standing administration, as the military continues to control the premises of the nation’s leading independent voice.