Former Resident District Commissioner Herbert Anderson Burora has resurfaced past warnings he issued to Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda, following a dramatic order by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba to arrest Managing Director Susan Nsibirwa.
In a reaction posted after the arrest directive, Burora accused Nsibirwa of ignoring earlier advice, linking the current crisis to what he described as poor leadership decisions.
“Why have four eyes that cannot see in the future?” Burora posed, adding that he had cautioned her in October last year about what he termed as “arrogance” and lack of administrative competence.
He further argued that the situation had now escalated to the point where employees were bearing the consequences.
“Her cheap popularity and lack of administrative skills now leads to many employees struggling. Anyway, let everyone carry their cross,” he stated.
Burora’s remarks come in the wake of heightened tensions between the Ugandan government and NMG, culminating in the shutdown of its media outlets and the controversial arrest order targeting Nsibirwa.
In a message dated 2025, Burora had advised the media house to adopt a more cautious and strategic approach in handling disputes, warning that confrontational editorial decisions could trigger severe economic and operational repercussions.
He emphasized that NMG is a profit-driven enterprise and not a non-governmental organisation, cautioning against framing disagreements with authorities as adversarial standoffs.
According to him, such an approach risked provoking state actions that could cripple the organization’s business interests.
“The Managing Director shouldn’t follow populists in making such publications,” Burora wrote at the time, urging Nsibirwa to explore alternative dispute resolution mechanisms rather than escalating tensions publicly.
He further warned that government retaliation could extend to cutting business ties between state agencies and the media house, a move he suggested would have far-reaching financial implications.
Burora referenced past government actions, including the shutdown of donor-funded programmes, as evidence that authorities could take drastic measures when provoked.
The renewed attention to his earlier warnings has added another dimension to the unfolding crisis, with analysts now debating whether the standoff reflects deeper structural tensions between independent media and state power in Uganda.
While Burora frames the developments as a consequence of ignored counsel, critics argue that the focus should remain on press freedom and the legality of military involvement in civilian media operations.