WAKISO, Uganda – Eight years after the closure of Horizon Media Uganda, media entrepreneur Ssekaayi Simon has officially returned to the industry with the launch of Uganda National Media Group (UNMG), marking a fresh chapter in his entrepreneurial journey.
The new media holding company was unveiled on Thursday in Naggalabi, Wakiso District, with Simon describing the venture as a product of hard-earned lessons from the rise and eventual collapse of his previous business.
Founded in 2008, Horizon Media Uganda operated as a production and online news company based in Old Kampala. At its peak, the company employed around 15 people and built a reputation for producing video content. However, financial challenges forced the business to suspend operations in 2018 before it was later removed from Uganda’s companies register after years of inactivity.
Speaking during the launch, Simon said the creation of UNMG is not an attempt to revive the past but to build a stronger and more sustainable media organisation.
“Failure is not the end of the journey. Every setback offers lessons, and this new company is built on those experiences,” he said.
Following the closure of Horizon Media Uganda, Simon and his team spent several years reviewing the shortcomings of the former company and developing a more sustainable business model before establishing Uganda National Media Group.
UNMG will initially focus on digital journalism through National Horizon, an electronic newspaper that will be distributed on commercial e-paper platforms before later expanding into print publishing.
Chief Executive Officer Ssentamu Derrick said the company aims to distinguish itself through factual, balanced and professional journalism while operating in full compliance with Uganda’s media laws and regulatory framework.
“Our focus is to build a credible media institution that informs the public responsibly while embracing innovation in digital publishing,” Ssentamu said.
The company has established its headquarters in Kibibi Town Council, Gombe, with operational offices in Naggalabi. Other members of the leadership team include Board Director Wasemi Sylvia and Non-Executive Director Isaac Ssegawa.
The launch attracted several guests, including Busiro East Member of Parliament Emmanuel Magoola and MK International Schools Director Bamulopa Sulaiman, who welcomed the establishment of another media platform in Uganda’s growing digital media sector.
For Simon, the launch of UNMG represents more than the birth of a new company. It reflects his determination to rebuild after failure and demonstrates that entrepreneurial setbacks can become opportunities for reinvention.
As Uganda National Media Group begins operations, its success will depend on its ability to build public trust, adapt to the rapidly evolving media landscape and establish a sustainable business model in an increasingly competitive industry.
