Nation Media Group (NMG), one of East Africa’s largest media organisations, is considering removing or reassigning its Uganda managing director, Susan Nsibirwa, as it seeks to resolve a standoff with the Ugandan authorities that has forced the closure of the Daily Monitor newspaper and NTV Uganda, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Three people with direct knowledge of the negotiations said shareholders and senior executives were actively discussing either transferring Nsibirwa to a less prominent role within the group or ending her employment. No final decision has been made.
The talks come after a meeting on Tuesday between the powerful Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and NMG shareholders, including Tanzanian businessman Rostam Aziz and his son Saam Aziz, held at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe.
Sources said concerns about Nsibirwa’s leadership were a central issue during the discussions.
Government officials and security agencies raised sharp concerns about her leadership, accusing her of using personal social media accounts to criticize senior officials and adopting an activist posture inconsistent with the role of a chief executive at a major media organization, the people said.
Authorities also contend that her approach encouraged similar tendencies among editors and newsroom staff, contributing to what they describe as a shift away from balanced journalism toward partisan advocacy at the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda.
During the meeting, government representatives argued that the outlets had increasingly blurred the line between news reporting and commentary aligned with opposition and civil-society voices, according to the sources.
Nsibirwa was not immediately available for comment. Sources within NMG, however, insisted that editorial and newsroom operations remain independent of the managing director’s authority.
“Susan doesn’t determine the news stories published,” one source said. “The MD has oversight of all sections except the newsroom.”
Another added: “In fact, the MD also sees the paper or its e-paper when it is out the press unit.”
NMG, which is headquartered in Kenya and listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, owns a portfolio in Uganda that includes the Daily Monitor, NTV, radio stations and other assets.
The company has faced operational disruptions following security actions that halted printing and broadcasting, though it initially continued some digital publishing.
No timetable has been set for reopening the affected print, broadcast, and digital platforms.
Ugandan authorities said the shutdown of NMG’s operations stemmed from a security-led inquiry ordered by President Yoweri Museveni, involving the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and other agencies including the Criminal Investigations Directorate.
People involved in the negotiations said progress on leadership and policy adjustments could determine both the future of NMG’s Uganda unit and the resumption of operations.
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