Daily Monitor headquarters on 8th Street Industrial Area are still under key and lock
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Normal operations of Nation Media Group, of which Daily Monitor and NTV are part, will remain closed until the government concludes a security-led inquiry ordered by President Yoweri Museveni into the circumstances that led to the disruption of the media house’s activities.
The announcement, made on Tuesday by the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, signals that there is no immediate timeline for the resumption of operations at one of Uganda’s largest independent media organisations, which has remained shut since June 28.
In a press statement dated June 30, Lumumba said the closure was not a permanent measure but was linked to investigations being undertaken by multiple security agencies.
“The events of 28th June 2026 that led to the disruption of operations at Nation Media Group were occasioned by a Security-Led Inquiry, instituted by H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda,” Lumumba said.
She added that the inquiry is being conducted by a broad team of state security institutions.
“The inquiry involves the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, the Criminal Investigations Directorate of the Uganda Police Force, other security agencies and experts,” the minister said.
Lumumba indicated that the government would only permit the media house to reopen after the investigations have been completed, without giving a specific date.
“Government will inform the public once the inquiry has been concluded,” she stated.
The announcement offers the clearest indication yet that Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda and other Nation Media Group operations could eventually resume, although their reopening remains dependent on the outcome of the investigations.
The shutdown followed an unprecedented deployment of security personnel at Nation Media Group premises after an escalating dispute between the government and the media house over its reporting. Authorities have not publicly detailed the specific issues under investigation beyond referring to a presidentially directed security inquiry.
The closure has attracted concern from media rights organisations, journalists and civil society groups, who argue that prolonged suspension of one of Uganda’s largest news organisations could undermine media freedom and deny the public access to diverse sources of information. Uganda’s Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and of the press, although the government maintains that these rights must be exercised within the law.
Nation Media Group is East Africa’s largest independent media company, with operations in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda. In Uganda, its brands include the Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda, KFM, Dembe FM and several digital news platforms, making it one of the country’s most influential media organisations.
While Lumumba’s statement stops short of announcing an immediate reopening, it provides reassurance that the closure is tied to an ongoing inquiry rather than a permanent revocation of the company’s operating status.
The eventual reopening of Nation Media Group will therefore depend on the completion of the investigations and the government’s subsequent communication on the way forward, leaving journalists, employees and audiences awaiting the outcome of the security-led process.
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