Monitor Co-founder Warns Against Compromising Independence for Reopening

As behind-the-scenes negotiations unfold regarding the potential reopening of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda, veteran journalist Phillip Wafula Oguttu has issued a strong caution. Oguttu, a co-founder of the Daily Monitor, is advising against any agreement that could grant the government sway over the publication’s editorial content, warning that such concessions would erode the newspaper’s core principle of independence.

Founded in the early 1990s as a platform for public debate during a time when political parties were banned, the Daily Monitor quickly became a crucial voice in questioning government policy when other institutions offered limited scrutiny. Oguttu highlighted that preserving this editorial independence is more critical than securing a reopening at any cost.

NMG’s operations in Uganda were halted following directives from the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The current negotiations, being led by the military rather than the statutory media regulator, have sparked concerns about the role of security agencies in media oversight. Sources indicate that Gen Kainerugaba presented NMG executives with articles and NTV Uganda reports deemed biased by the military.

While NMG management has reportedly assured staff of their commitment to independent journalism upon resuming operations, they have also acknowledged the challenging operating environment. The company’s suspension of online publications, following the physical shutdown, is seen as a move to facilitate the ongoing talks.

Oguttu contends that the current situation, while mirroring past government pressure such as the ban on advertising, is different because the central issue is not if the Monitor will reopen, but under what conditions. He believes the newspaper’s established independence is its most valuable asset and that its closure reflects a broader constriction of press freedom in Uganda.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/monitor-co-founder-wafula-warns-against-trading-independence-for-reopening