U-TURN: Muhoozi, Mwenda Confirm ‘NTV & Daily Monitor To Reopen Soon’

By Swift Reporter

Journalist and political commentator Andrew Mwenda has announced that discussions are underway to facilitate the reopening of Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, days after the Nation Media Group (NMG) outlets were forced off air following a security operation.

In a post published on his official X account on Sunday, Mwenda said he had held discussions with Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and that leaders of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) had agreed to engage the management of the affected media houses before their operations resume.

“I have just held discussions with Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba and we, as leaders of PLU, have agreed that we shall reopen both Daily Monitor and NTV soon,” Mwenda wrote.

“However, we shall first have discussions with the management of both sister companies. I will inform them when we can have this meeting.”

Shortly afterwards, Gen. Muhoozi confirmed that discussions were ongoing, saying consultations were also being held with what he described as “allies in the UK and Europe.”

“As comrade Andrew Mwenda said, we are having discussions with our allies in the UK and Europe about re-opening both NTV and Daily Monitor,” Gen. Muhoozi posted on X.

“We shall take the results of these discussions to Mzee for final approval.”

The latest remarks come after a dramatic weekend in which security personnel surrounded Nation Media Group premises in Namuwongo and Kampala Serena Hotel, forcing NTV Uganda and Spark TV off air while disrupting broadcasts on KFM and Dembe FM.

The shutdown followed a series of social media posts by Gen. Muhoozi in which he announced that NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor would be closed and said they would not reopen without his permission.

Nation Media Group Uganda has not publicly commented on Mwenda’s latest remarks or confirmed whether it has been invited to discussions regarding the reopening of its operations.

The closure of the media outlets has drawn widespread concern from journalists, civil society organisations, and press freedom advocates, who have called for the immediate restoration of broadcasting services and respect for constitutional protections guaranteeing freedom of the press.

It remains unclear when the proposed meeting between PLU leaders and Nation Media Group management will take place or when the affected media platforms could resume normal operations.