The reopening of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda nearly hit a major obstacle after Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba reportedly became angered by the company’s decision to continue publishing news on its digital platforms despite his directive that the media house cease all operations.
Highly placed sources familiar with the negotiations told The Investigator that Gen. Muhoozi viewed the continued activity on the company’s websites and social media channels as defiance of his instructions to completely shut down the organization’s operations. The development reportedly threatened to derail delicate negotiations that had made significant progress earlier in the week toward reopening the media house.
According to sources, the CDF remained unconvinced that Nation Media Group’s leadership had fully complied with his directives after NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, Spark TV, KFM and Dembe FM were taken off air while their online platforms continued publishing news updates.
“The CDF interpreted their behaviour of maintaining their online platforms active as mockery and unapologetic. He believed they had not fully appreciated the seriousness of the issues that had been raised,” one source close to the negotiations said.
The military chief is said to have communicated his dissatisfaction through individuals involved in efforts to broker a settlement between government and the media house. Among those reportedly playing a central role were journalist Andrew Mwenda and broadcaster Allan Kasujja, who relayed Gen. Muhoozi’s concerns directly to NMG Uganda Managing Director Susan Nsibirwa and the company’s senior leadership.
Sources said the message was clear: unless the company demonstrated full compliance with the shutdown directive, the anticipated reopening could be jeopardized.Faced with the possibility that negotiations could collapse, the company’s management reportedly moved swiftly to address the concerns.
According to sources familiar with the internal discussions, Managing Director Susan Nsibirwa instructed editorial teams to immediately suspend publication across all of the group’s digital platforms.”The MD has directed that all online platforms follow suit and freeze publication,” one insider disclosed.
The decision marked a dramatic shift. Since the suspension of its television and radio operations earlier in the week, Nation Media Group had continued updating readers through its websites and social media accounts, maintaining one of the few remaining channels through which it continued operating.
Industry observers interpreted the suspension of online publishing as a significant concession aimed at reassuring government negotiators that the company was committed to implementing the understandings reached during ongoing discussions.The move is also understood to have restored confidence within government circles, allowing negotiations to continue.
With the digital platforms now frozen, attention has shifted to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is expected to announce the reopening of Nation Media Group Uganda during his State of the Nation Address on Saturday, bringing to an end nearly a week of uncertainty following the unprecedented closure of one of Uganda’s largest independent media organizations.
Highly placed sources familiar with the negotiations told The Investigator that the President has personally intervened to resolve the impasse after a series of high-level engagements involving senior government officials, the leadership of Nation Media Group Uganda and intermediaries close to both parties.
According to the sources, Museveni has agreed to allow the media house to resume operations but will use his nationally televised address to issue what insiders describe as a “final warning” to the Namuwongo-based company over its editorial conduct.The President is scheduled to address the nation on Saturday, July 4, at 8:00 p.m., with the speech expected to be carried live on all television and radio stations across the country.
Presidential intervention
The anticipated announcement follows days of intense behind-the-scenes negotiations aimed at ending a standoff that has attracted widespread local and international attention.
Sources indicated that Museveni personally engaged with the new owners of Nation Media Group Uganda before reaching a decision to permit the company’s television, radio and newspaper operations to resume.
“The President has decided to reopen NMG. However, he has made it clear that this should be treated as the last opportunity for the media house to mend its relationship with government,” a source familiar with the discussions said.
According to the source, Museveni emphasized that while his government remains committed to media freedom, it also expects what officials describe as responsible journalism that does not deliberately undermine national institutions.
The same source revealed that during the negotiations, representatives of the media house reportedly assured government that they would review aspects of their editorial approach.”The owners have pledged to tone down their hard-hitting direction towards government,” the source said.Neither State House nor Nation Media Group had officially commented on the reported agreement by Friday evening.
High-level negotiations
The expected reopening follows a meeting between Gen. Muhoozi and representatives of Nation Media Group Uganda held earlier this week.According to sources briefed on the discussions, both sides reached consensus on several issues intended to guide the reopening of the company’s operations.
Although the full details of the agreement remain confidential, sources say the discussions focused on rebuilding trust between government and the media organization while establishing mechanisms to prevent similar confrontations in future.Officials familiar with the talks described the meeting as frank but constructive, with both parties acknowledging the need to restore normal broadcasting operations.
Government sources maintain that the discussions were not intended to interfere with editorial independence but rather to address what they view as repeated concerns regarding coverage of national security matters.Representatives of the media house, meanwhile, are understood to have emphasized the importance of protecting professional journalism while expressing willingness to engage constructively with government.
End of uncertainty
If confirmed during Saturday’s address, the reopening would mark the conclusion of one of the most dramatic confrontations between government and a major media organization in recent years.
The closure affected thousands of viewers, listeners and readers who rely daily on NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, Spark TV, KFM and Dembe FM for news and current affairs programming. It also left hundreds of journalists, producers, technical staff and other employees uncertain about the future of their work.
The anticipated presidential announcement is therefore expected to be welcomed by employees and audiences alike, even as questions remain about the long-term implications of the understandings reportedly reached between government and the media house.
Political analysts say Museveni’s decision to personally announce the reopening would underscore the political significance of the dispute and demonstrate his role as the final arbiter in resolving sensitive national matters.
Attention will now shift to Saturday evening when the President delivers his State of the Nation Address, with many Ugandans expected to listen closely for what could become one of the speech’s most closely watched announcements.Should the anticipated declaration be made, Nation Media Group Uganda would be set to resume operations under the new framework reportedly agreed during negotiations, ending days of uncertainty while opening a new chapter in its relationship with the government.
Author Profile
- Charles Gazza Kodili is a seasoned journalist with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication. He’s currently the Chief Editor at the Investigator.
Charles can also be reached via; Tel: +256 774 108978
Email: [email protected]
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