KAMPALA, Uganda — Two weeks after security agencies sealed off the operations of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda, hundreds of employees remain in limbo, uncertain when they will return to work and increasingly anxious about their financial future.
While public attention has largely focused on questions of press freedom, government investigations and negotiations over the reopening of the country’s largest private media organisation, employees say the prolonged closure is creating a growing human and economic crisis behind the scenes.
Journalists, producers, photographers, technicians, administrative staff and freelance contributors interviewed by our senior journalist Michael Wandati described a workplace community struggling with uncertainty as the shutdown enters its third week.
“Do you remember COVID-19, when people woke up every morning with nowhere to go? That is exactly what this feels like,” one NTV Uganda journalist said.
“You wake up, but you don’t know what comes next. Your routine is gone.”
The employee, who requested anonymity because staff have been instructed not to discuss internal matters publicly, said the uncertainty surrounding the company’s future has become increasingly difficult to manage.
“We all hope the company reopens, but nobody knows when that will happen. There is always a chance things could take longer or change completely. That uncertainty is frightening.”
Financial anxiety grows
The closure has intensified concerns about income security, particularly among workers whose livelihoods depend directly on daily newsroom activity.
According to staff members, permanent employees have received assurances from management that contractual salary obligations will continue to be honoured during the shutdown.
However, freelance reporters, photographers, camera operators and contributors say they have effectively lost their income overnight.
“I survive on stories,” one freelance journalist said.
“If my stories are not published, I do not earn anything. The bills have not stopped because the newsroom is closed.”
Another contributor described the closure as the longest period without work since entering journalism.
“I have spent years building sources and chasing stories every single day. Now I am sitting at home watching major events happen without knowing when I will return to work.”
Media analysts note that freelance journalism remains particularly vulnerable during prolonged disruptions because contributors are generally paid per assignment, broadcast package, photograph or published article rather than receiving fixed monthly salaries.
More than jobs at stake
Beyond financial concerns, employees say the closure has affected morale, professional identity and mental wellbeing.
Several workers described feelings of isolation and helplessness as major stories continue unfolding across the country without the participation of one of Uganda’s largest newsrooms.
Information obtained by Vivid Voice News indicates that employee welfare has become a regular subject during internal management discussions since the shutdown.
Staff members say management has acknowledged rising concerns about psychological wellbeing and has begun organising counselling support and departmental engagement sessions.
Supervisors have reportedly been encouraged to maintain regular communication with employees as uncertainty persists.
Government acknowledges employee concerns
The shutdown has affected more than 700 employees, according to figures cited by government officials.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday 14, July 2026, ICT Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba acknowledged the difficulties facing workers who have been unable to access their workplaces since security agencies halted operations.
Also Read: Why Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda may not reopen anytime soon
Lumumba said employees could eventually return to work once the ongoing security investigation is completed.
However, neither the government nor NMG Uganda has publicly provided a timeline for the conclusion of the inquiry or the reopening of the media house.
Broader implications
The closure of NMG Uganda, which operates the Nation Media Group brands Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, has generated widespread debate among journalists, media rights advocates and legal experts.
Media freedom organisations have warned that prolonged interruptions to newsroom operations can have consequences extending beyond journalism, affecting hundreds of workers, their families and businesses that rely on media advertising and content production.
For many employees, however, the immediate concern remains simple: uncertainty.
“We are trying to stay hopeful because that is all we have,” another reporter said.
“We love this work, and we want to return to it. We only hope those making the decisions remember that behind this shutdown are hundreds of families wondering how they will make it through another week.”
Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda had not publicly responded to requests for comment on employee welfare by the time of publication.
