Gen. Muhoozi Hosts Nation Media Group Executives in Entebbe Amid Ongoing Media Standoff

By  Peter Luzinda 

 

ENTEBBE, Uganda — July 1, 2026 — Uganda’s military leadership and executives from Nation Media Group on Wednesday afternoon held a high-level meeting in Entebbe following the shutdown of some of the company’s leading media outlets in Uganda.

The meeting was convened by Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, at the Special Forces Command headquarters.

Among those who attended were Nation Media Group owner Rostam Aziz, his son Saam Aziz and Georgia Mutagaywa.

Veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda and Acting UPDF/Defence Public Information Director Chris Magezi also attended the discussions, which come at a time of mounting public debate over media freedom and state authority.

The talks followed the suspension of operations of NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor, Spark TV and KFM, a move that has drawn strong reactions from journalists, political actors and civil society organizations across the country.

Military authorities previously accused sections of the media of broadcasting content considered contrary to national security interests, leading to a widening standoff between security agencies and the Nation Media Group-owned outlets.

The closure disrupted television and radio broadcasts as well as newspaper circulation, leaving many Ugandans without access to some of the country’s most influential news platforms.

Sources familiar with the Entebbe discussions said the meeting aimed at finding common ground and reopening communication channels between the military establishment and the media house. Although no official resolutions were immediately announced, observers described the engagement as a significant step toward easing tensions.

The developments continue to attract national attention, with media rights advocates warning against prolonged restrictions on independent journalism while government supporters insist on responsible reporting, especially on sensitive security matters.

As of Wednesday evening, both the UPDF and Nation Media Group had remained publicly silent on the outcome of the meeting, leaving uncertainty over when the affected outlets may resume normal operations.