An independent media group will resume operations in Uganda after President Yoweri Museveni lifted a shutdown ordered by his son, the country’s powerful army chief, its main shareholder said Tuesday.
Kainerugaba declared on X after the shutdown that he did “NOT believe in a free press!” in Uganda, accusing NMG outlets of a “lifetime of insults” against him.
Taifa Group, which became NMG’s largest shareholder in March, said Museveni had now authorised the “resumption of Nation Media Group’s operations in Uganda”.
Taifa founder Rostam Azizi expressed “sincere gratitude” to the president and army chief for their support and said Taifa fully backed NMG’s commitment to “fair, balanced, independent and responsible journalism”.
NMG chairman Joe Muganda said the company’s TV, newspaper, radio and online services would be restored gradually.
The Daily Monitor, one of Uganda’s most influential independent papers, had not updated its website since June 30, but it reported Museveni’s decision on Tuesday.
The paper was shut down for 13 days in 2013 after reporting on an alleged plot to prepare Kainerugaba to take over from his father, who has ruled since 1986.
Uganda ranks a lowly 143 out of 180 countries worldwide on the media watchdog Reporters without Borders press freedom index.
