Armed soldiers are on guard outside the headquarters of Daily Monitor newspaper in Namuwongo, Kampala./NTV Uganda
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has said it is engaging relevant government stakeholders following the abrupt suspension of broadcasts by several Nation Media Group outlets in Uganda.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the communications regulator said it had taken note of the circumstances that led to NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Dembe FM and KFM going off air.
UCC said consultations with the relevant government agencies had already commenced to establish the facts surrounding the development.
"The Uganda Communications Commission has noted the circumstances that have led to the Nation Media Group's outlets, including NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Dembe FM and KFM, going off air. Consultations have begun with the relevant government stakeholders to obtain verified information," the regulator said.
The Commission appealed to members of the public to remain calm as the consultations continue, assuring them that further communication will be issued once the process is complete.
"The Commission urges the public to remain calm and allow these consultations to proceed. We will provide further updates as appropriate once the consultations conclude," the statement added.
UCC, however, did not disclose the cause of the disruption or indicate when the affected television and radio stations are expected to resume broadcasting.
The country's military reportedly shut down Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda's broadcast and print operations following an order issued by Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The dramatic move saw NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and the Daily Monitor forced off air and their operations disrupted after armed security personnel surrounded the company's premises in Namuwongo, Kampala, as well as the Kampala Serena Hotel.
Muhoozi, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, announced the directive through his official social media account on June 28, declaring that the media houses would cease operations immediately.
"NTV and Monitor are being shut down from today," Gen Muhoozi posted.
The announcement came hours after he had warned that the two media outlets required President Museveni's clearance before they could continue operating.
According to reports from the Daily Monitor, heavily armed security personnel were deployed shortly after midnight, sealing off Nation Media Group's offices and preventing staff from entering or leaving the premises.
The overnight operation effectively crippled the broadcaster's television services, with viewers of NTV Uganda and its sister station Spark TV waking up to blank screens displaying the message "video unavailable."
NTV Uganda later confirmed the disruption, saying its broadcasts had gone dark by around 5 am local time on Sunday.
The station shared images showing soldiers stationed outside its offices while confirming that its operations had been halted.
Staff members were reportedly confined within the premises as security officers maintained a heavy presence, further disrupting the publication of the Daily Monitor, Uganda's leading independent newspaper.
Nation Media Group, East Africa's largest independent media company headquartered in Kenya, owns several media platforms in Uganda, including NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Daily Monitor, The East African, 93.3 KFM, 90.4 Dembe FM, Ennyanda newspaper and Nation Courier, among other investments.
