Armed Forces Siege Nation Media Group Offices in Kampala Following Gen. Muhoozi’s Shutdown Order
KAMPALA, Uganda — Heavily armed soldiers have established blockades outside the Namuwongo headquarters of the Daily Monitor newspaper, marking a dramatic escalation in the military-led crackdown on independent press in Uganda.
The physical deployment follows an executive decree by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, ordering the immediate suspension of all Nation Media Group (NMG) subsidiaries in the country.
Military Seiges Localized Across the Capital
Eyewitness accounts and verified updates confirm that corporate premises associated with NMG are currently inaccessible. The restriction of movement began late Saturday night and rapidly expanded into a synchronized security operation across multiple central nodes:
-
Namuwongo Headquarters: Uniformed troops are actively guarding perimeter gates, turning away staff and blocking entrance to the main Daily Monitor complex.
-
The Serena Hotel Broadcast Centre: A simultaneous siege commenced around midnight on Sunday. Military personnel entered the NTV Uganda and Spark TV broadcasting hub, subsequently forcing both major television networks completely off the air.
Comprehensive Media Blackout
The sweep has effectively crippled Uganda’s largest independent media conglomerate. Beyond NTV and the Daily Monitor, the operational halt has affected an array of heavily trafficked print and radio platforms, including:
-
KFM and Dembe FM: Popular radio frequencies targeting regional news and lifestyle entertainment.
-
Spark TV: A highly-watched commercial television station.
-
The East African: A prominent regional newspaper delivering cross-border political and economic coverage.
-
Constitutional Concerns Mount
While Gen. Muhoozi previously signaled his intent to enforce strict oversight on the country’s information landscape—stating that the press must be “guided by cadres of the revolution”—the direct deployment of active-duty soldiers to newsrooms marks an unprecedented physical shutdown.
As of early Sunday morning, broadcast screens remain blank and digital updates from the affected outlets are severely limited. NMG management has yet to release an official corporate strategy, while regional press defenders warn that the ongoing siege represents a significant constitutional crisis for freedom of expression in Uganda
