Entebbe — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has met Tanzanian businessman Rostam Aziz, the owner of Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda outlets, amid the continued shutdown of NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor.
President Museveni confirmed the meeting in a post shared on his official X account, saying he hosted Aziz at State House Entebbe.
“Today at State House Entebbe, I met Mr. Rostam Azizi, Chairman of the Taifa Group of Companies,” President Museveni said.
Journalist Canary Mugume also reported that the President had met Aziz, describing him as the owner of NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor.
The meeting comes nearly three weeks after NMG Uganda’s television and newspaper operations were taken off air following an order attributed to Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces.
The shutdown affected NTV Uganda, Daily Monitor and other NMG platforms in Uganda, with authorities citing concerns over what they described as biased reporting.
NMG Uganda has not publicly announced the reopening of the affected outlets, while discussions between company representatives and government officials have continued.
Aziz, who chairs the Taifa Group of Companies, has previously held talks with Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba following the closure. Reports indicated that discussions focused on concerns about media coverage and commitments by NMG Uganda to ensure balanced journalism.
The Friday meeting with President Museveni marks the latest engagement between the businessman and senior Ugandan officials.
Beyond media interests, Aziz’s Taifa Group has investments across sectors including energy, infrastructure and other strategic areas in East Africa. The businessman has maintained close economic ties in the region through various investments.
The shutdown of NMG outlets has drawn attention from media rights organisations, journalists and civil society groups, who have raised concerns about press freedom and the role of independent media in Uganda.
Authorities have previously maintained that media organisations must operate responsibly and within the law, while media practitioners have called for mechanisms that protect editorial independence.
No details were immediately released on the discussions between President Museveni and Aziz, including whether the meeting addressed the status of NMG Uganda’s closed platforms.
NMG Uganda operates some of the country’s most prominent media brands, including NTV Uganda and Daily Monitor, which have played a major role in Uganda’s news landscape for decades.
The Taifa Group, founded and chaired by Aziz, has expanded investments across East Africa, with interests ranging from energy to finance and infrastructure.
