During the month-long forced closure of National Media Group (NMG) in Uganda, from June 28 to July 28, 2026, I found myself reflecting on a story once aired by NTV, one of its television platforms.
The story focused on a family that had allegedly been illegally evicted from its ancestral land after it was grabbed by a powerful public official. When NTV gave the aggrieved widow a platform to share her ordeal during the evening Akawungezi news bulletin, the story reached the attention of the relevant authorities. The intervention that followed eventually helped restore the family's land rights.
This was just one of the many stories that bold and independent media outlets tell every day while executing their core mandate of informing the public, shaping discourse and holding power to account. In the process, independent media often becomes a bridge to justice for vulnerable people who otherwise have no platform, resources or influence to fight for their rights.
This is the beauty of independent media. When given the freedom to operate, it can hold even the most powerful individuals and institutions accountable, promoting fairness, justice, equality and equity in society.
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Unfortunately, across the world, free, courageous and independent media that gives a voice to marginalised communities and voiceless individuals is increasingly under attack.
Although NMG resumed operations after its closure, the incident raises serious concerns about the future of fearless journalism and whether independent media organisations will continue challenging those in positions of power with the same confidence as before.
The attempt to silence one of East Africa's most prominent independent media groups represents a wider threat to press freedom and the role of journalism in society.
During the NMG ordeal, several questions kept coming to my mind: When the voice of the voiceless is silenced, who loses? And what happens when those without power no longer have a platform to tell their stories?
I was reminded of remarks by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres during World Press Freedom Day 2026, when he stated: "When journalists are silenced, we all lose our voice."
Indeed, attempts to suppress independent journalism have far-reaching consequences for businesses, governance, civic participation, democracy and ordinary citizens.
It is often courageous journalists -- both professional and citizen journalists -- who expose electoral malpractice, investigate environmental destruction, scrutinise business practices, uncover corruption, document human rights violations and report on injustices affecting communities.
Yet journalism has increasingly become a dangerous profession.
Across the world, journalists have been beaten, tear-gassed while covering protests, abducted, subjected to surveillance, harassed online, dismissed from their workplaces, and in some cases killed simply for doing their work.
According to a 2025 report by the United Nations human rights agency on press freedoms, hundreds of journalists and media workers remain detained globally, while many others have lost their lives in the course of their work.
The situation is particularly worrying in Africa, where independent media continues to face political interference, financial challenges and restrictions that threaten the ability of journalists to operate freely.
I return to the question: When the voice of the voiceless is silenced, who loses?
The answer is simple -- everyone loses.
Government institutions lose because they miss out on constructive criticism and accountability mechanisms that help improve service delivery. Civil society organisations lose because they depend on open civic spaces to advocate for communities. Businesses lose because independent media provides both scrutiny and platforms for engagement with consumers.
But above all, ordinary citizens lose the most.
Without independent media, citizens are denied a platform to demand justice, access reliable information and challenge decisions that affect their lives. When truth becomes controlled and facts are negotiated, inequality, injustice and abuse of power thrive.
Without a free press, violence and human rights abuses can continue unchecked because the watchdog role of journalism is weakened.
In an era of social media and artificial intelligence, where misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly, independent journalism is even more important. It helps society separate facts from falsehoods and provides credible information that citizens can trust.
Without independent media, democracy itself becomes vulnerable. Silencing courageous journalism limits citizens' participation, weakens freedom of expression and creates an environment where electoral malpractice and abuse of authority can flourish without scrutiny.
Independent media also provides platforms for political discussions, public dialogue and constructive debate -- all essential ingredients for democracy, social cohesion, peaceful coexistence and national unity.
Governments should therefore recognise that a free press is not an enemy but a partner in building stronger institutions.
When journalists expose failures in healthcare systems, infrastructure projects or public services, they provide an opportunity for authorities to investigate problems and improve accountability.
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Civil society organisations equally benefit from independent media because it creates the civic space necessary for advocacy, public awareness and social development.
The business community also gains from a vibrant media environment through fair scrutiny, public engagement and opportunities to connect with customers through advertising and communication.
Therefore, when independent media is silenced, the entire nation suffers.
Government officials and security agencies must understand that the role of independent media is to promote transparency, accountability, inclusion and democratic governance. Any attempt to undermine press freedom goes against the spirit of the Windhoek Declaration of 1991, which recognises the importance of independent, pluralistic and free media.
Independent media is the oxygen of an open and free society. Silencing it is not the solution.
It is the responsibility of everyone who values justice, democracy and human dignity to defend press freedom and protect independent journalism in whatever capacity possible.
Robert Kigongo is an activist for press freedom and a sustainable development analyst
