Takeaways

• Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordered the shutdown of NTV Uganda, Spark TV and other Nation Media Group Uganda outlets.
• An overnight security operation surrounded NMG premises, restricting staff movement as the stations went off air.

NTV Uganda and Spark TV have been forced off air following an overnight security operation at Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda premises in Namuwongo and Kampala Serena Hotel, after Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordered the shutdown of the media group’s outlets.

By 5:00am on Sunday, viewers attempting to access NTV Uganda and Spark TV were instead met with blank screens displaying the message, “video unavailable.”

The status of other NMG platforms, including the Daily Monitor, remained uncertain after Gen Muhoozi also named the newspaper in his late-night posts on X.

The security operation reportedly began shortly after midnight, with security personnel deployed at the NMG offices. Staff members at the premises said no one was being allowed to enter or leave the compound as the operation unfolded.

At 1:07am, Gen Muhoozi announced the decision in a post on X, writing, “NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today!”

Nation Media Group Uganda operates several media outlets, including the 20-year-old NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, Spark TV, 93.3 KFM, 90.4 Dembe FM, The East African, Ennyanda newspaper and the Nation Courier, among other media investments.