Nation Media Group Uganda Reopens After Month-Long Shutdown

Nation Media Group Uganda (NMG-U) has officially recommenced operations, marking the end of a significant disruption for major Ugandan media outlets.

The month-long suspension had taken NTV, Daily Monitor, Spark TV, KFM, and Dembe FM off air, impacting news dissemination and hundreds of employees. The company’s chairman, Joe Muganda, stated that services would be restored progressively as operational arrangements are finalized.

This reopening comes after intensive negotiations involving NMG shareholders, senior government officials, and security agencies. The shutdown, initiated in late June, was reportedly linked to an inquiry involving the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and other security bodies. This followed accusations of biased reporting leveled by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Recent weeks saw high-level discussions, including meetings between Gen. Muhoozi and incoming majority shareholder Rostam Aziz, as well as Aziz’s meeting with President Yoweri Museveni. While specifics remain undisclosed, these talks are understood to have addressed the company’s editorial direction, management, and journalistic standards.

Additionally, a meeting between NMG CEO Geoffrey Odundo and Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Nyombi Thembo has been interpreted as a positive step in relations with the regulator.

The resumption coincides with a major ownership transition, as Tanzanian businessman Rostam Aziz is set to acquire a controlling stake from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. NMG has assured that this change will not affect its stock exchange listings.

The return of these influential media platforms signifies a crucial moment for Uganda’s media landscape.

Read more at: https://www.howwe.ug/news/entertainment/43388/ntv-daily-monitor-back-as-nation-media-resumes-operations