Politician and entrepreneur Abraham Luzzi has publicly supported the shutdown of Spark TV, one of the outlets under Nation Media Group (NMG), following a controversial directive by Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The shutdown, which affected several NMG platforms including NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor, has sparked widespread debate across the region over press freedom and state authority.
However, Luzzi has taken a different stance, framing the move as long overdue accountability for media houses.
However, Luzzi has taken a different stance, framing the move as long overdue accountability for media houses.
In a statement, Luzzi claimed Spark TV had previously targeted him with repeated negative coverage during a legal dispute in which he was accused of fraudulently obtaining Sh600 million.
He maintained that the allegations were false and were later dismissed in court.
“During my case, this TV used to air stories against me every single day, flashing my picture all over even though I was falsely accused,” Lizzi said.
“When the court dismissed the case and it became clear the story was not true, they never came out to clear my name.”
He argued that such conduct reflects a broader problem within sections of the media, accusing some outlets of prioritising sensationalism over factual reporting.
According to him, the shutdown should serve as a warning to media organisations to uphold accuracy and fairness.
“I fully support what the CDF is doing. This should be a strong warning to all media houses to stop fighting people’s wars for money,” he added.
Luzzi went further to commend General Muhoozi, describing the action as a step toward restoring accountability in Uganda’s media space.
He linked his support to a long-standing call for stricter regulation, claiming that unchecked media practices have caused reputational damage to individuals and contributed to moral decline in society.
“We have advocated for serious media regulation and accountability, including social media,” he said.
“The general public has endured reputational damage, while harmful content has affected societal values and Uganda’s image.”
His remarks come amid criticism from media rights groups and journalists, who have condemned the shutdown as an attack on press freedom and democratic principles.