NTV Uganda, Spark TV Forced Off Air After Security Operation at NMG Premises
NTV Uganda and Spark TV were forced off air by 5:00am on Sunday after an overnight security operation at Nation Media Group Uganda premises in Namuwongo and Kampala Serena Hotel.
Viewers of the two television stations saw blank screens carrying the message “video unavailable” after the shutdown.
The operation followed late-night posts by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba targeting Nation Media Group outlets, including NTV Uganda and the Daily Monitor.
Security personnel deployed at the media group’s premises shortly after midnight. Staff reported that no one was being allowed to enter or leave the compound.
“NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today!” Gen Muhoozi wrote in a 1:07am post.
He later added: “Both NTV and Monitor will not re-open without my permission.”
In an earlier post, Gen Muhoozi stated: “In Uganda, I DO NOT believe in a free press! The press should be guided by cadres of the revolution.”
Operation continues through early morning
The security operation continued into the early hours of Sunday.
At about 4:45am, NTV Uganda was still airing an Al Jazeera simulcast despite the security presence around NMG’s premises.
Shortly afterwards, both NTV Uganda and Spark TV went off air.
NMG’s radio stations, 90.4 Dembe FM and 93.3 KFM, also appeared to have gone off air during the operation. Ugandan authorities had not immediately given a reason.
By daybreak, security personnel remained deployed at the NMG premises in Namuwongo and at Kampala Serena Hotel. Staff inside said movement in and out of the premises remained restricted.
No formal government statement
By the time of publication, neither the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, the Uganda Police Force nor the Uganda Communications Commission had issued a formal statement explaining the operation.
No legal order affecting the broadcaster, newspaper or other NMG Uganda platforms had been publicly announced.
It was also not immediately clear how long the blackout would last.
NMG Uganda had not issued an official statement by the time of publication.
NMG Uganda owns NTV Uganda, the Daily Monitor, The East African, Spark TV, 93.3 KFM, 90.4 Dembe FM, Ennyanda newspaper and Nation Courier, among other platforms and investments.
The group employs more than 500 people in Uganda.
Previous State action against NMG
This is not the first time Nation Media Group Uganda has faced action by State agents.
In May 2013, police raided the Daily Monitor and Dembe FM after the publication of a letter allegedly linking senior government officials to a succession plan widely referred to as the “Muhoozi Project.”
The premises were sealed for more than a week. The outlets later resumed operations after signing police search certificates and other documents.
In February 2007, about two months after NTV Uganda launched in December 2006, the government forced the station off air. Authorities accused the broadcaster of negative news coverage.
President Yoweri Museveni has also repeatedly criticised the Daily Monitor over its critical journalism. At one point, he referred to it as an “enemy and evil newspaper.”
NMG profile
Nation Media Group is the largest independent media house in East and Central Africa.
The group operates in print, broadcast and digital media. It has operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
NMG is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, the Uganda Securities Exchange and the Rwanda Stock Exchange.