As closed-door negotiations continue over the possible reopening of Nation Media Group Uganda operations, one of the founders of the Daily Monitor, Phillip Wafula Oguttu, has warned against any agreement that would give government influence over editorial decisions.
Oguttu said such an arrangement would undermine the newspaper’s founding principle of independence, which he described as central to its identity.
He emphasized that Daily Monitor was established to provide Ugandans with an independent platform for public debate at a time when political parties were banned under President Yoweri Museveni’s Movement system.
He made the remarks during the Uganda Law Society’s RNBLive public engagement, noting that preserving editorial independence was more important than reopening the publication at any cost.
His comments come as senior executives from Nation Media Group’s headquarters in Nairobi continue discussions with Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) leadership following the closure of the company’s operations in Uganda.
Monitor Publications Limited was reportedly closed on Sunday on the orders of Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The ongoing talks have drawn public attention, particularly because they are being led by the military rather than Uganda’s statutory media regulator, raising concerns over the role of security agencies in media regulation.
Sources familiar with one of the meetings held at the Special Forces Command headquarters said Gen. Muhoozi presented NMG executives with several Daily Monitor articles he considered critical of the government, as well as NTV Uganda broadcasts he allegedly described as activism rather than journalism.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Col. Chris Magezi, the Military Assistant to the Chief of Defence Forces, said NMG management had agreed to adopt a “more patriotic, balanced, and objective approach” in its journalism moving forward.
The discussions remain ongoing as stakeholders await a formal outcome on the reopening of the media house.
By Our Reporter
2nd July 2026
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