The Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has indicated that NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor could soon resume operations after discussions with the management of the two media outlets.

In a post on X, Gen. Muhoozi said discussions were underway with allies in the United Kingdom and Europe regarding the reopening of the Nation Media Group Uganda outlets.

“We are having discussions with our allies in the UK and Europe about re-opening both NTV and Daily Monitor. We shall take the results of these discussions to Mzee for final approval,” Gen. Muhoozi posted.

His remarks came shortly after Andrew Mwenda, a senior leader of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), announced that the organisation had agreed to reopen the two media houses following consultations with their management.
“We, as leaders of PLU, have agreed that we shall reopen both Daily Monitor and NTV soon. However, we shall first have discussions with the management of both sister companies. I will inform them when we can have this meeting,” Mwenda wrote.

The developments follow the closure of Nation Media Group Uganda’s operations on Sunday morning after military personnel sealed off its premises in Kampala.

Earlier, Gen. Muhoozi announced on X that NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor would be shut down, saying he had been authorised by President Yoweri Museveni.

In a series of posts, he declared, “NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today!” before adding that the outlets “will not reopen without my permission.”
He also stated that he does not believe in a free press, arguing that “the press should be guided by cadres of the revolution.”

Military personnel were deployed at the Kampala Serena Conference Centre, home to NTV Uganda and Spark TV, and at Nation Media Group Uganda’s headquarters in Namuwongo, where the Daily Monitor, KFM, and Dembe FM operate.

Staff members reported being denied access to their workplaces, while electricity and backup power at the Serena premises were reportedly switched off.

Neither Nation Media Group Uganda, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, the Uganda Police Force, nor the Uganda Communications Commission had issued a detailed public explanation for the operation at the time.

The incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between Nation Media Group Uganda and state authorities. In 2013, security agencies closed the Daily Monitor and Dembe FM for more than a week following the publication of a letter linked to the so-called Muhoozi succession debate.

NTV Uganda also experienced a temporary shutdown in 2007 following government criticism of its reporting.

The latest statement by Gen. Muhoozi has raised expectations that the media outlets could resume operations if the planned discussions with their management are successful and receive final approval from President Museveni.