By Spy Uganda
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has effectively distanced itself from the ongoing closure of Nation Media Group (NMG) broadcasting outlets, telling broadcasters that the matter is beyond its mandate and can only be resolved through engagements with the country’s top leadership.
In a letter dated July 2, 2026, addressed to the Chairperson of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), Dr. Innocent Nahabwe, UCC Executive Director Nyombi Thembo acknowledged receiving the broadcasters’ request for engagement regarding the shutdown of NMG’s broadcast services. However, rather than offering a direct solution, the Commission said consultations are currently being handled by “relevant Government stakeholders” and referred broadcasters to an earlier statement by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba.
According to the letter, the minister had clarified that the disruption of NMG operations resulted from a security-led inquiry instituted by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. UCC further stated that government agencies are continuing consultations with the affected media house and promised to provide updates when available.
The communication has, however, been interpreted as an admission by the communications regulator that it lacks the authority to resolve grievances surrounding the shutdown. By linking the matter to a presidential security investigation rather than a regulatory process, the letter suggests that any meaningful discussions on reopening the affected stations lie with President Museveni or those overseeing the security operation, including Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, rather than the Commission itself.
The development is likely to fuel concerns among broadcasters and media freedom advocates, who had hoped UCC, as the industry’s regulator, would provide a clear regulatory pathway for resolving the dispute. Instead, the Commission’s response indicates that the fate of the suspended NMG outlets now rests with political and security authorities, leaving broadcasters with little recourse through the regulator.
