The year was, I think, 1996, when my first article appeared in the Daily Monitor newspaper. I could not believe it. I was sixteen years old, a student in boarding school. I could not believe it. I stared at that page with my name under the children’s story I had written for hours. That publication…
Public relations professionals have renewed their call for a law to regulate the profession, saying it will raise standards, improve accountability and protect the public from unqualified practitioners. The proposed Public Relations Bill is expected to establish a legal framework for regulating the profession, set minimum professional standards and enforce a code of ethics for…
Renowned social commentator and social critic, Timothy Kalyegira, has been missing since either Thursday or Friday last week. A message circulated in the Butenga Estate residents’ WhatsApp group on Sunday evening raised the alarm. It said Kalyegira, who lives in the estate located in Kira, had not been seen or heard from since around Thursday…
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has called for talks with the government after Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the CDF, ordered the shutdown of Nation Media Group in Uganda. Muhoozi’s orders led to the closure of NTV Uganda, Spark TV, and Daily Monitor, a decision some press freedom advocates are calling one of the most serious…
Solomon Serwanjja, the executive director of the African Institute for Investigative Journalism (AIIJ), has become the latest person to be summoned by police in what appears to be a widening crackdown on civil society organisations in the media, governance and human rights space. Serwanjja founded AIIJ in 2021, an organisation dedicated to training and building…
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has awarded renowned media consultant and researcher Dr Joel Isabirye the contract to establish and operationalise its planned radio station after he emerged the best evaluated bidder in a competitive procurement process. According to information from KCCA, nine media service providers submitted bids for the project. Following the evaluation…
The media fraternity is mourning the death of BBS Terefayina journalist Joseph Sseruwooza, who passed away on Friday morning at the Uganda Heart Institute in Mulago. Sseruwooza, said to be in his early 30s, was a reporter with BBS Terefayina and widely known for covering Parliament. He was also the host of the station’s popular…
The Director of Communication at Parliament, Chris Obore, has warned journalists covering the House against professional misconduct and urged them to adhere to the principles of ethical journalism. Obore made the remarks during a media engagement with members of the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA), organised by Parliament’s Department of Communication and Public Affairs. Speaking…
Felix Osike, a veteran reporter and editor at Vision Group, has indicated that he will be leaving the media organisation at the end of the year. Impeccable sources at New Vision told Bbeg Media that Osike, who serves as deputy editor-in-chief, has communicated the decision to top management, including Don Wanyama, the CEO of Vision…
Chris Obore, the long-serving and outspoken director of Communications at Parliament, is said to be navigating one of the most delicate moments of his career following the election of Jacob Oboth-Oboth as speaker of the 12th Parliament. Sources within Parliament told Bbeg Media that in recent weeks, Obore has become cautious as the new leadership…
Veteran journalist and lawyer Charles Odongtho could replace Joseph Sabiti as Principal Press Secretary in the office of the Speaker, multiple sources at Parliament have told Bbeg Media. Odongtho worked closely with new Speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth during his campaign to lead the House. We understand he was part of his communications and mobilization team…
Paul Lwanga, the former right-hand man of Next Media CEO Kin Kariisa and a ruthless enforcer of his directives, has been fired from the media group after he allegedly brought pork onto the company’s premises. Impeccable sources told Bbeg Media that Lwanga, who had been moved to Next Media Foundation, the charity arm of the…
Mildred Tuhaise, the husky-voiced anchor and senior reporter, is set to leave Next Media at the end of this month, impeccable sources at Naguru have told Bbeg Media. We have been told that Tuhaise tendered her notice of resignation at the beginning of this month. However, management is yet to officially respond to it. In…
Barbara Kaija, who joined New Vision in 1992 as a sub-editor trainee and rose to become the first Ugandan woman to edit a major national newspaper, will retire at the end of June after more than 34 years of service to the Vision Group. The Vision Group CEO, Don Wanyama, announced in a memo on…
The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has called on the government to respect the safety and independence of journalists, saying the media plays a critical role in strengthening democracy and protecting human rights in Uganda. Speaking during the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day at the society’s offices in Kampala, Audrey Apio Afra, the head of…
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has warned media houses against distorting information related to court proceedings at Mmengo Court. The warning was issued during a harmonisation meeting held at the commission’s headquarters in Bugolobi, bringing together three pastors: Robert Kayanja of Miracle Centre Cathedral, David Kiganda, and Jackson Ssenyonga. Kayanja had earlier petitioned the UCC,…
Uganda will on May 3 join the rest of the world to mark World Press Freedom Day, but journalists say they continue to face persistent challenges, including low pay, harassment by security agencies and violations of media rights. Addressing journalists at a joint press conference at the Uganda Media Centre, Paul Ekochu acknowledged the difficulties…
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has pledged to organise more training sessions for journalists to deepen public understanding of taxation and improve reporting on revenue matters. Myra Ochwo, the assistant commissioner for tax education at URA, made the remarks during a media training for members of the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA) at the authority’s…
Vision Group is demanding the World Bank Shs 2.7 million in unpaid advertisements and promotions across its platforms, we can reveal. According to the list of Vision Group debtors seen by Bbeg Media, the World Bank, a multilateral lender, is one of several reputable international organisations that have not cleared their dues. UNICEF owes Shs…
Veteran radio presenter, Meddie Nsereko, has told two people that he left CBS because he did not see eye to eye with Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga. We reported last year that Nsereko will not be returning to CBS FM after he applied for sick leave because his eyes had a defect that he wanted to treat…
The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) issued a statement from Geneva on Tuesday that was polite, dignified, and retrospective. It spoke of six decades of editorial independence, of a free press built from a Kiswahili-language weekly purchased in 1959, of 30 brands and 62 million digital users, and a legacy of democratic contribution….
Richard Olwenyi, a senior reporter with Next Media, has fulfilled one of his lifetime dreams after Makerere University awarded him a Master of Arts in Journalism and Communication. Olwenyi started his masters degree journey more than five years ago but it was interupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking to Bbeg Media, Olwenyi said pursuing a master’s…
Daniel Kalinaki, the General Manager, Editorial at Nation Media Group (NMG) Uganda, is set to leave his position, bringing to a close one of the most visible editorial careers at the Daily Monitor. Multiple sources at the Namuwongo-based news organisation told Bbeg Media that Kalinaki has already informed some people of his decision to step…
President Museveni has pledged Shs5 billion to organised content creators, urging young Ugandans to play a central role in the country’s push to eradicate poverty. Museveni, accompanied by the First Lady, Janet Kataaha Museveni, hosted the second edition of Jazz with Jajja at his Kisozi farm in Gomba. The event brought together content creators, journalists,…
The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has urged the media to commit to balanced and accurate reporting on standards and metrology, saying misinformation is fuelling public misunderstanding and non-compliance. Speaking at the launch of the Standards and Metrology Media Initiative at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala, the body’s deputy executive director, Patricia Bageine…
Nation Media Group (NMG) has stopped publishing Sunday Monitor in Uganda, marking the end of the journey of one of the most favourite news editions for many of its readers. The edition was rich in news features, opinion columnists, and political analysis. Today’s edition was the last; the media conglomerate announced on its social media…
African media leaders have called for greater transparency, accountability and ownership in the age of artificial intelligence as the fourth edition of the Africa Media Festival 2026 concluded in Nairobi. The call comes amid what participants described as a generational shift reshaping both media and politics across the continent. Younger, digitally native audiences are consuming…
More than 12 hours after Julius Kitone, a reporter at Next Media, perished in a road accident, the company has yet to announce his demise on any of its platforms. We have been told that some people in the editorial department where Kitone worked are not happy about the delay. Kitone was one of the…
Nation Media Group (NMG) is considering scrapping the Sunday edition of Monitor Publications Limited as part of its restructuring process, sources at Namuwongo have told Bbeg Media. It is not clear when the decision will be effected, but reliable sources said “by April Sunday Monitor could be no more.” We have been told that during a…
Josephine Namakumbi, a news anchor and reporter, has been let go by Next Media as part of the company’s restructuring programme, multiple sources have told Bbeg Media. Namakumbi joined Next Media in 2019 as a news anchor and reporter is so far the biggest name in the editorial department to lose her job. She has…
Next Media has suspended Adam Kungu, the host of The Barometer talk show, following a heated show between two guests on February 2, which the Naguru-based media organisation said breached minimum broadcasting standards set by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). In a letter dated February 4, 2026, which Bbeg Media has seen, Dalton Kaweesa, Head…
There is rising tension and anxiety among staff at Next Media Services in Naguru following an internal memo that signalled a restructuring of departments and potential job losses. The memo dated January 10, 2025, the multi-media company said it was embarking on a second phase of reallignment which “will extend to the rest of our…
Government has ordered the immediate closure of the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), a respected media training institution in Africa, citing unspecified intelligence reports that its activities “threaten national security.” In a notice dated January 9, 2026, the NGO Bureau suspended ACME’s operating permit under Section 42(d) of the NGO Act Cap 109. The…
Isaac Daniel Katende, popularly known as Kasuku, managed to extract one million shillings from President Museveni after a session he and others had with him at State House Nakesero. Dubbed “Jazz with Jajja,” the interaction involved several digital content creators and social media influencers with Museveni. It was organised by Natasha Karugire Museveni, the president’s…
MC Kats, a popular entertainment presenter and event host and a mainstay on Uganda’s local TV scene, is set to leave NBS Television, Bbeg Media has learnt. Sources at the Naguru-based broadcaster say Kats, who has been hosting the evening entertainment show After 5, has told management that he will exit the station at the…
Brian Mulondo, one of Uganda’s most recognisable radio voices, has left KFM after eight years, marking the end of an era for one of the country’s most influential radio brands. Mulondo’s exit was confirmed through a tribute by Joseph Beyanga, his former boss at FM, who described him as “probably the most consequential signing of…
Daniel Kalinaki, the General Manager, Editorial, of Nation Media Group in Uganda, is in a spot of bother after his PR firm was linked to a Shs 22 billion deal undertaken by the Ministry of Works and Transport, which has attracted public scrutiny. Zulu Media Limited, one of the entities in a joint venture that…
Nine months after we reported that The Observer newspaper, one of Uganda’s most reputable news organisations, is up for sale, it is yet to find a suitable buyer. Sources told us that several people and entities had expressed interest, but many pulled out for unclear reasons. Others, sources said, had backed out because of the…
After months of speculation, Meddie Nsereko will not be returning to CBS FM, three highly placed sources have told Bbeg Media. Meddie Nsereko has been off air for more than two months. We reported last month that he had applied for sick leave because his eyes had a defect that he wanted to treat in…
Uganda’s digital news sector is expanding at a remarkable pace, but it remains fragile, unevenly regulated, and can be easily manipulated, a new report by the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) warns. The State of Uganda’s Media Landscape 2024–2025 report, which focuses on digital news and elections, says the country now has more than…
Next Media has announced a nationwide call for organisations to join its expanding Creative Media Skilling and Work Transition programme, a move that some analysts believe will help the company strengthen its influence in the face of competition from several digital content creators. The plan has a sweetener: Next Media will fund partner organisations that…
Stanbic Bank Uganda, in collaboration with the Uganda Bankers Association (UBA), on Monday convened a targeted engagement with online media personalities, digital editors, content creators, and social media influencers to strengthen national fraud-awareness efforts at a time when many Ugandans increasingly rely on online news. Opening the session, Candy Wekesa Okoboi, Stanbic Bank’s head of…
Paul Lwanga, a long-time lieutenant of Next Media CEO Kin Kariisa, may be on his way out of the company, according to multiple sources. Having risen through the ranks from Human Resources Officer to Chief People Officer, to Chief Operations Officer, and then to General Manager of Hillcom (a Next Media subsidiary), insiders have told…
Uganda’s media landscape has turned into a real battleground lately. As the Nation Media Group (NMG) clashes with the government, Next Media, one of the biggest broadcasters around, has been pulled into the mess too. But the Naguru-based media conglomerate has kept a safe distance. The trouble started earlier this year. Since March 2025, reporters…
In December 2015, when President Museveni held a rally in Soroti Municipality, he announced that Tirinya Health Centre IV would be converted into a general hospital. He also said that Kamuda Health Centre III would be upgraded to Health Centre IV by 2020. Yesterday at a rally in Soroti city, Museveni said, “We are upgrading…
The dismissal of Betsy Mugamba, the former chief operations officer of Sanyu FM in 2020 was lawful and justified, the Industrial Court has ruled. This bring to an end a five-year legal battle that arose from the 2020 staff strike over Covid-19 pay cuts. Justice Anthony Wabwire Musana, delivering judgment, said the radio station followed…
Veteran CBS presenter Meddie Nsereko is currently in the United Kingdom for sick leave, sources within the Mengo-based radio station have told us. There had been reports that the veteran radio presenter was under suspension, but this has now been disputed. “He applied for sick leave because his eyes have a defect which he wants…
Parliament has blocked access to reporters from Daily Monitor and NTV, multiple sources at the two institutions have confirmed to us. The two organisations are part of the Nation Media Group, one of the biggest multi-media organisations in East Africa. Chris Obore, the Director of Communications, said he had been informed that it was a…
Panic has gripped workers at the Naguru-based Next Media following reports that the company could slash the number of staff by the end of December. More than 20 people from various departments could be affected, four people with knowledge about the ongoing meetings by top management told Bbeg Media. The decision to lay off some…
Stella Nandawula Ssendagire, a prominent news anchor at BBS TV, and her husband Charles Ssendagire, the Head of Broadcast (current affairs) at Next Media, have reportedly left Uganda for the United States in pursuit of “kyeyo” (odd jobs). Sources in the US told Bbeg Media that the couple arrived in the States last month and…
