It Is Either Press Freedom Or Nothing
The story
I was scrolling through X when I came across a viral post showing a meeting held on June 30, 2026, between National Media Group's new owner, Rostam Azizi, Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe. Reports suggested that the meeting focused on the closure and possible reopening of Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda.
It is difficult not to fear that the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, long regarded as independent voices in Uganda's media landscape, could be forced into discretionary self-censorship.
Details
Such a development would extend far beyond one media company. It would send a chilling message across the country's entire information ecosystem, affecting editorial independence in newsrooms throughout Uganda.
If media organisations are compelled to accept political conditions in exchange for operating, the consequences will go beyond the Daily Monitor and NTV. It would fundamentally undermine the Fourth Estate's constitutional responsibility to hold those in power accountable and could accelerate the erosion of independent journalism in Uganda.
My concerns deepened after listening to Andrew Mwenda publicly discuss the June 30 meeting. According to Mwenda, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba presented what he described as evidence of bias, false reporting and political activism by Nation Media Group outlets against the NRM government.
Mwenda further stated that, as part of the discussions surrounding the reopening of the outlets, institutional reforms were expected, including changes in editorial leadership and newsroom operations to make coverage more acceptable to the government.
Among the reported proposals were an overhaul of senior management and editorial teams that have helped build Daily Monitor and NTV into respected media brands across Africa, earning millions of readers and viewers over the years.
Many objective Ugandans have followed the coverage over the years and can point to numerous examples where the outlets have extensively reported government achievements. They have covered infrastructure projects, service delivery, official ceremonies, diplomatic engagements, tourism promotion, economic development initiatives, poverty alleviation programmes, and presidential addresses.
Why it matters
This is a public-interest story for readers because it touches institutions, communities, policy decisions, or services that affect daily life. Mods99 News will continue updating the article if more verified details become available.