KAMPALA, Uganda — The reopening of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda’s suspended operations could depend on a series of editorial reforms discussed during a meeting between the company’s leadership and Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The discussions took place at the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe and involved senior NMG stakeholders, including investor Rostam Aziz and his son Saam Aziz.
The meeting comes days after security agencies shut down several NMG operations in Uganda, including NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, KFM and other affiliated platforms.
Editorial reforms discussed
Veteran journalist and Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) spokesperson Andrew Mwenda, who attended the meeting, said authorities raised concerns about what they viewed as persistent bias in the media group’s coverage.
According to Mwenda, one of the key proposals discussed was the recruitment of additional professional editors and journalists as part of efforts to strengthen editorial standards.
“The government simply wants them to be professional,” Mwenda said after the meeting.
“As a core condition of the agreement to move forward, NMG must hire professional editors and recruit professional journalists who will adhere strictly to a mandate of objective reporting.”
Mwenda said the discussions formalised a framework that could pave the way for the eventual restoration of the company’s operations.
“Because of the commitments made, we are looking at a reopening that may happen far sooner than many expected,” he added.
Claims of editorial bias
Mwenda said Gen Muhoozi presented what he described as an intelligence report reviewing several years of content published by NMG outlets, including NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor and KFM.
According to Mwenda, the report alleged a pattern of coverage that authorities considered disproportionately critical of government institutions.
The claims have not been independently verified, and Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda has not publicly responded to the specific allegations.
The issue of media independence and editorial balance reportedly featured prominently in the discussions between the parties.
The closure of NMG’s Uganda operations has generated debate among journalists, media rights advocates and political observers.
Government officials have linked the action to concerns over coverage of political and security matters, while critics have questioned the implications for press freedom and independent journalism.
Information Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba has indicated that the security operation that disrupted NMG’s broadcasting and printing activities was authorised at the highest levels of government.
Also Read: Gen Muhoozi agrees to reopen NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor
The suspension affected NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, KFM, Spark TV and other affiliated platforms, although the company has continued publishing through its digital channels.
Following Wednesday’s meeting, Gen Muhoozi is expected to submit a report to President Yoweri Museveni outlining the discussions and any proposed way forward.
No official timeline has been announced for the restoration of NMG’s operations.
However, participants in the talks suggested that discussions had made progress and that a decision on reopening could be taken in the coming days if both sides agree on the proposed framework.
