The Ugandan military has raided the Kampala offices of Nation Media Group Uganda, forcing the shutdown of NTV Uganda and its sister stations in a dramatic escalation of press freedom crackdowns in the country.
The raid happened at around 1:00 am on Sunday, June 28, 2026, with armed security personnel storming the group's offices at Plots 29/35, 8th Street, Industrial Area at Namuwongo, Kampala. A second NMG location at the Kampala Serena International Conference Center was also locked down during the same overnight operation.
Electricity was cut off at both premises, bringing radio, TV and newspaper operations to a sudden standstill. Television stations NTV Uganda and Spark TV went dark, showing unavailable screens, while The Daily Monitor newspaper and radio stations 93.3 KFM and 90.4 Dembe FM also went completely silent.
General Muhoozi Claims Responsibility
The military operation was ordered by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's Chief of Defense Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, who publicly announced the crackdown on social media. Muhoozi declared the stations would remain shut until they received his personal permission to reopen.
In a hard-hitting statement, the General made his position on press freedom very clear. "In Uganda, I do not believe in a free press. From now on ALL bad stories about Uganda have to be cleared by my office!" declared Gen. Muhoozi.
He also said his father, 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni, had fully approved the shutdown plan, signalling the move carried the highest level of political backing. "I have the power in Uganda to shut down ANY media house I want to. I have had this power since 2017. This power was given to me by my great father President Kaguta Museveni. NTV and Daily Monitor are learning about it today," stated Gen. Muhoozi.
Nation Media Group Responds
In a notice seen by Stretnews.co.ke on June 28, NMG-U confirmed the disruption, assuring its readers, viewers and listeners that digital coverage will continue as the situation unfolds. "While our offices are closed, we will continue to keep you engaged and informed through our digital platforms," the group stated.
The broadcaster said the raid resulted in electricity disconnection and disruption of normal operations across their platforms on radio, TV and newspapers.
Pattern of Press Restrictions
This crackdown is the latest and most drastic escalation in a broader assault on independent media following Uganda's 10th general election, during which NTV Uganda reporters had already been barred from entering Parliament.
This also follows a longer pattern of press restrictions, including the banning of NMG journalists from the presidential press gallery and the removal of Kenya's KTN News from local satellite feeds, including the ban on the sale of its newspaper, The Standard, in the country.
Uganda's Press Freedom Ranking
Uganda ranks 143rd out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. This places Uganda in the "very serious" category for journalists, who often face challenges like intimidation and state interference in their daily work. For journalists working in Uganda, intimidation and state interference are not rare occurrences but everyday realities.
As the situation continues to unfold, NMG-U has promised to keep its audiences informed through digital platforms even as its physical premises remain inaccessible.
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