Dr Joel Isabirye's MIG to Sue Media Owners Association Over Attack on Latest Survey Report

What the report says

Market Intelligence Group (MIG), led by Dr Joel Isabirye, has threatened legal action against the Uganda Media Owners Association (UMOA) after the industry body criticised MIG’s 2026 Uganda National Media Survey. In a legal notice sent through M. A. Kajubi & Co. Advocates, MIG gave UMOA 10 days to retract its September 3 statement, apologise publicly and promise not to repeat what MIG calls defamatory remarks.

According to the notice, UMOA said MIG’s report contained inaccuracies and misrepresentations and urged stakeholders to disregard it. MIG argues that the wording went beyond fair criticism and damaged its professional and commercial reputation. The research firm also accuses UMOA of business disparagement and anti-competitive conduct under Uganda’s Competition Act, 2024 and the Competition Regulations, 2025.

The dispute centres on a survey released in Kampala at Emin Pasha Hotel that MIG says covered 146 districts and 26,733 respondents. The report highlighted NBS Television and several Next Media programmes and personalities in multiple categories, including news, politics and entertainment. MIG says its methodology relied on face-to-face interviews and a wider national sample, which it believes makes the findings more representative.

Beyond the specific rankings, the row points to a broader disagreement in Uganda’s media sector over which audience measurement studies advertisers and broadcasters should trust. If UMOA does not comply within 10 days, MIG’s lawyers say they will seek damages, an injunction and legal costs in court.