The media conglomerate on Tuesday announced that its services, including Daily Monitor, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, KFM, Dembe FM and other platforms, would be restored progressively as it completes operational arrangements.
The reopening follows weeks of negotiations led by NMG Editor-in-Chief Joe Ageyo, who remained in Kampala during the shutdown period as the company engaged government officials over conditions for resumption.
The final stages of the talks involved NMG Chairman Joe Muganda, Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Odundo, NMG Uganda Managing Director Susan Nsibirwa, acting General Manager Allan Chekwech and Ageyo meeting Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Nyombi Thembo on Monday to conclude outstanding issues.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NMG Chairman Joe Muganda welcomed the opportunity to return to the Ugandan market, saying the company’s immediate priority was rebuilding its relationship with audiences, employees and partners.
“We welcome the opportunity to resume operations in Uganda and to reconnect with our audiences, employees, commercial partners and communities,” Muganda said.
“Our immediate priority will be to restore our platforms responsibly, strengthen local content and provide Ugandans with credible, relevant and innovative journalism across print, broadcast and digital channels.”
The announcement followed a statement from Taifa Group, the majority shareholder of NMG through its subsidiary Taarifa Limited, confirming that President Museveni had authorised the reopening.
Taifa Group Chairman Rostam Aziz expressed appreciation to the President and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba for their role in the engagements that led to the decision.
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for this important decision, and to General Muhoozi Kainerugaba for his support throughout the engagement that led to this positive outcome,” Aziz said.
He said the group remained committed to Uganda’s socio-economic development through responsible investment and partnerships.
“We fully support the Group’s commitment to fair, balanced, independent and responsible journalism that informs, educates and contributes positively to public discourse,” Aziz added.
The reopening comes after weeks of uncertainty following the June 28 shutdown of NMG Uganda operations, when security personnel surrounded the company’s Namuwongo offices and transmission facilities, taking NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Daily Monitor, KFM and Dembe FM off air.
During the negotiations, government officials raised concerns over what they described as imbalance in the company’s editorial coverage and demanded changes to strengthen professionalism.
In earlier engagements at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe, NMG executives met Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, where discussions reportedly focused on the media house’s editorial direction.
According to journalist Andrew Mwenda, who attended the meeting, authorities wanted commitments on professional standards, including recruitment of experienced editors and journalists.
“The government simply wants them to be professional. As a core condition of the agreement to move forward, NMG must hire professional editors and recruit professional journalists who will adhere strictly to a mandate of objective reporting,” Mwenda said.
The shutdown was linked to wider tensions between the government and the media group, with the detention of opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye cited as one of the issues that heightened disagreements.
Information Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba previously said the deployment that shut down NMG facilities had been sanctioned by President Museveni.
As operations resume, NMG said it would continue relying on its regional presence across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda to strengthen journalism and public engagement in East Africa.
The company said its focus would remain on editorial independence, integrity, fairness and professionalism.
“Nation Media Group will draw on its regional capabilities and experience to support a resilient, forward-looking media industry in Uganda, while creating opportunities for talent, enterprise and public engagement,” Muganda said.
The return of NMG platforms marks the end of one of the longest disruptions faced by a major private media organisation in Uganda in recent years.