NMG Journalists Re-enter Parliament After Extended Exclusion

Members of the Nation Media Group-Uganda (NMG) have returned to cover proceedings from within the Parliament chambers, marking the end of an approximately year-long exclusion. The media house’s journalists had been denied access under the previous leadership, widely seen as a reprisal for extensive reporting on alleged corruption and questionable expenditures within the legislature.

Notably, the return was not facilitated by an official clearance from parliamentary authorities. Instead, it was facilitated by Aringa South Member of Parliament (MP) Alioni Yorke Odria, who personally escorted the NTV crew into the building after they were initially denied entry at the gate.

Inside the chambers, the presence of NMG’s cameras was a symbolic moment for many legislators, with some exchanging knowing glances as coverage resumed from the press gallery. The reentry occurs amidst ongoing scrutiny of Parliament over financial mismanagement allegations that have affected its leadership.

MP Odria stressed the need for deeper investigations, stating that alleged corruption within Parliament appeared institutionalized and extended beyond the ousted Speaker’s office. He argued that accountability should not be limited to a single individual.

Echoing these sentiments, Nakawa West MP Joel Ssenyonyi criticized the former leadership for allegedly prioritizing private interests over public resources, especially during times of economic hardship for ordinary Ugandans. Ssenyonyi suggested that the current focus on the former Speaker might be part of internal power struggles and attempts to politically manage her growing ambitions.

He cautioned against selective anti-corruption efforts, warning that investigations could become mere political theater if they do not address a wider network of implicated officials. Ssenyonyi posited that the allegations against the former Speaker could represent a fraction of a larger political contest within the ruling establishment.

As the afternoon session progressed, NMG journalists moved freely within the parliamentary buildings, reclaiming a crucial space for press freedom after months of reporting from outside the gates.

This story was adapted from the Daily Monitor.