Uganda’s communications regulator has issued its first official response following the abrupt shutdown of Nation Media Group (NMG) outlets, as uncertainty continues to surround the circumstances under which the media houses were forced off air.
In a statement released on Sunday, June 28, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Executive Director Nyombi Thembo confirmed that the regulator is aware of the situation affecting several major broadcasters.
The affected outlets include NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Dembe FM, and KFM, all of which went off air earlier in the day following a military-led operation.
“The Uganda Communications Commission has noted the circumstances that have led to the Nation Media Group's outlets… going off air,” Thembo said, signaling the regulator’s acknowledgment of the unfolding developments.
The shutdown followed a directive by Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whose remarks on social media indicated direct involvement in the decision to halt operations at the media houses.
Armed security personnel were reportedly deployed at NMG premises in Kampala, restricting access and disrupting both broadcast and newsroom activities.
Despite the scale of the operation, UCC has not provided a definitive explanation for the shutdown.
Instead, Thembo noted that the Commission has initiated consultations with “relevant government stakeholders” to establish verified facts surrounding the incident.
“Consultations have begun… to obtain verified information,” he stated, suggesting that the regulator is still in the process of clarifying the legal and administrative basis of the action.
The Commission has also appealed for calm among the public and media stakeholders as the situation continues to evolve.
“The Commission urges the public to remain calm and allow these consultations to proceed,” Thembo added.
The lack of immediate regulatory clarity has raised questions about institutional coordination and the role of oversight bodies in media governance, particularly in situations involving security agencies.
Nation Media Group, one of East Africa’s largest independent media organizations headquartered in Nairobi, has yet to resume operations in Uganda.
The shutdown has sparked concern among journalists, civil society groups, and regional observers over press freedom and the operational environment for independent media in the country.
UCC has indicated that further updates will be issued once consultations are complete, leaving the future of the affected outlets uncertain.