New Vision Group
New Vision Group is a Ugandan multimedia and publishing conglomerate built around the New Vision newspaper.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
New Vision Group, also known as Vision Group or the Vision Group of Companies, is a Ugandan multimedia conglomerate whose core business is newspaper publishing. Its flagship title, New Vision, is an English-language daily newspaper distributed in print and through online channels. The group also publishes newspapers and magazines in several Ugandan languages and operates or has operated radio and television outlets serving national and regional audiences. The organization was established in 1986 alongside the launch of New Vision. William Pike became its first managing director at the time of the group’s formation. From its publishing base, the company developed a broad media portfolio intended to reach Uganda’s linguistic and regional markets. Its newspaper titles have included Bukedde in Luganda, Orumuri in Runyankore/Rukiga, Etop in Ateso, and Rupiny in Luo. This multilingual structure has been a central feature of the group’s market position, allowing it to combine a nationally recognizable English-language publication with locally oriented titles. The group’s publishing activities extend beyond daily newspapers. Its portfolio has included Premiership, a monthly football magazine; City Beat, an entertainment publication aimed at younger and relatively affluent readers; Bride & Groom, a quarterly bridal magazine; and the annual Secondary Schools Directory. Through Vision Printing, the group also provides printing capacity used for newspapers in Uganda and neighboring markets, including Rwanda and South Sudan. Vision Group expanded into broadcasting during the 2000s. Its television operations have included Urban Television, an English-language channel launched in October 2009, Bukedde Television, a Luganda-language channel launched in the same month, and West Television, which serves western Uganda with programming in regional languages and English. Its radio portfolio has included X-FM, formerly Vision Voice FM, Radio Bukedde, Radio West, Radio Rupiny, Radio Etop, and Arua One FM. These stations have provided English- and vernacular-language programming from Kampala and regional centers including Mbarara, Gulu, Soroti, and Arua. Digital publishing became an additional area of development. The group introduced a global mobile e-paper application in 2015. The application was disabled in 2019 while the company worked on an upgrade, reflecting the operational and technical transition from a primarily print-based model toward digital distribution. The company has also participated in media and cultural initiatives. In 2016, it entered a partnership with Wakaliwood Uganda to help promote the Ugandan film industry. At the same time, the group has faced governance, editorial, and employee-relations controversies. These have included an alleged poisoning of a board member in 2007, an apology for a corruption report concerning Muwenda Mutebi II of Buganda in 2009, an embezzlement case involving a group accountant, and labor measures taken during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020. These incidents form part of the documented public history of the organization but do not by themselves establish the group’s current operating condition. The holding company, The New Vision Printing and Publishing Company Limited, is publicly traded on the Uganda Securities Exchange under the symbol NVL. Its ownership has included the Ugandan government as well as institutional and individual shareholders. The group’s principal identity remains that of a Ugandan news and publishing institution with complementary print, radio, television, printing, and digital activities.
History
New Vision Group was established in Uganda in 1986 with the launch of the New Vision newspaper. William Pike served as the organization’s first managing director. The company later operated through The New Vision Printing and Publishing Company Limited, a holding company commonly referred to as Vision Group. The group developed from a flagship English-language daily into a diversified media organization. Its publishing portfolio expanded to include newspapers serving major Ugandan language communities. Bukedde was published in Luganda, Orumuri in Runyankore/Rukiga, Etop in Ateso, and Rupiny in Luo. The group also produced specialist and lifestyle publications, including Premiership, City Beat, Bride & Groom, and the Secondary Schools Directory. Its printing arm supplied production capacity for newspapers in Uganda and for publications associated with neighboring markets such as Rwanda and South Sudan. During the 2000s, Vision Group added broadcasting to its publishing operations. Radio outlets included stations in Kampala and regional centers, with programming delivered in English and local languages. The portfolio included Vision Voice FM, later known as X-FM; Radio Bukedde; Radio West in Mbarara; Radio Rupiny in Gulu; Radio Etop in Soroti; and Arua One FM, acquired in Arua in 2012. The organization also launched Urban Television and Bukedde Television in October 2009. West Television operated alongside Radio West in western Uganda and used regional languages as well as English. The group’s expansion was accompanied by episodes of controversy and internal difficulty. In 2007, a board member was allegedly poisoned. In 2009, the organization apologized for publishing a corruption-related story about Muwenda Mutebi II of Buganda. In 2017, a group accountant was sentenced to five years in prison in connection with the embezzlement of 262 million Ugandan shillings over the period from 2008 to 2013. Digital distribution became more prominent in the 2010s. The group launched a global mobile e-paper application in 2015. It later disabled the application in 2019 while undertaking an upgrade. In March 2016, Vision Group partnered with Wakaliwood Uganda in an initiative to promote Ugandan film production and culture. The COVID-19 pandemic created significant pressure on the organization. In May 2020, after announcing major salary cuts, the group placed dozens of employees on forced leave without pay. The same period was associated in the available account with the death of the group’s accountant, who was found dead at her home. The reference material does not establish a causal connection between the employment measures and the death. Vision Group became a publicly traded Ugandan media company, with shares traded on the Uganda Securities Exchange under the symbol NVL. Its ownership has included the Ugandan government, institutional investors, and individual investors. The group’s headquarters are in Kampala’s Industrial Area. Its historical business model has combined mass-market news publishing, multilingual regional media, commercial printing, broadcasting, and progressively expanded digital distribution.
- 2020
Pandemic-related workforce measures
[1]During the COVID-19 outbreak in Uganda, the group announces salary reductions and places dozens of employees on unpaid forced leave.
- 2019
E-paper service is disabled for upgrading
[1]The group disables its e-paper application while preparing an upgrade.
- 2016
Wakaliwood partnership
[1]Vision Group signs a partnership with Wakaliwood Uganda to support promotion of the Ugandan film industry.
- 2015
Global e-paper application launches
[1]The group launches a mobile e-paper application intended to provide global access to its newspaper content.
- 2012
Arua One FM is acquired
[1]Vision Group acquires Arua One FM, adding a station serving audiences in and around Arua.
- 2009
Urban Television and Bukedde Television launch
[1]The group enters television broadcasting with Urban Television and Bukedde Television, launched in October.
- 1986
New Vision Group is established
[1]The group is established in Uganda and launches the New Vision newspaper, with William Pike as its first managing director.
Products and positioning
A broad-reach Ugandan media house combining a nationally prominent English-language newspaper with vernacular publishing, regional broadcasting, television, printing, and digital news distribution.
English-language daily newspaper · 1986
New Vision
The flagship English-language daily newspaper of Vision Group, published in print and made available through online channels. It anchors the group’s national news-publishing identity.
Luganda-language newspaper
Bukedde
A newspaper published in Luganda, extending the group’s reach into one of Uganda’s largest language communities and complementing its English-language flagship.
Runyankore/Rukiga-language newspaper
Orumuri
A vernacular newspaper published for audiences using Runyankore/Rukiga, also described in reference material as a Runyakitara-oriented publication.
Ateso-language newspaper
Etop
A newspaper published in Ateso as part of Vision Group’s multilingual publishing portfolio.
Luo-language newspaper
Rupiny
A Luo-language newspaper serving readers in northern Ugandan markets and supporting the group’s regional publishing strategy.
Sports magazine
Premiership
A monthly football magazine covering English, African, and Ugandan football news.
Entertainment magazine
City Beat
A monthly entertainment magazine aimed at an affluent audience aged approximately 19 to 35.
Bridal magazine
Bride & Groom
A quarterly bridal magazine covering marriage, weddings, and related lifestyle content.
Digital newspaper service · 2015
E-paper application
A mobile application launched to provide global digital access to the group’s newspaper content. It was disabled in 2019 while an upgrade was being developed.
Controversies
2017
Accountant convicted in embezzlement case
A group accountant was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzling 262 million Ugandan shillings during the period from 2008 to 2013.
2009
Apology over corruption report concerning Muwenda Mutebi II
The group apologized after publishing a corruption-related story concerning Muwenda Mutebi II of Buganda.
2007
Alleged poisoning of a board member
A New Vision Group board member was allegedly poisoned. The available reference does not identify the perpetrator or establish the outcome of any investigation.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Wakaliwood Uganda partnership
Uganda
Vision Group partnered with Wakaliwood Uganda to promote the Ugandan film industry, linking the media group’s distribution and promotional capabilities with local film production.
Outcome. The available reference confirms the partnership but does not provide measurable audience, revenue, or cultural-impact results.
Brand decisions
2020
Pandemic cost-cutting and unpaid leaveStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 outbreak created operational and financial pressure for media organizations in Uganda.
Action taken
The group announced major salary cuts and subsequently placed dozens of employees on forced leave without pay.
Aftermath
The measures became part of the group’s documented labor-relations controversy during the pandemic.
2016
Partnership to promote Ugandan filmStrategyBackground
The group used its media presence to participate in development and promotion of Uganda’s film sector.
Action taken
It signed a partnership with Wakaliwood Uganda.
Aftermath
The reference material confirms the partnership but does not describe subsequent performance.
2015
Launch of a global mobile e-paperProduct launchBackground
The group sought to extend its newspaper distribution beyond physical copies and Uganda-based audiences.
Action taken
It launched a mobile e-paper application intended for global access.
Aftermath
The application was later disabled in 2019 while the group worked on an upgrade.
Recent events
- 2020
New Vision Group places employees on unpaid leave during the COVID-19 crisis[1]
Other
During the pandemic, the group sent dozens of employees on forced leave without pay after announcing significant salary reductions.
- 2019
New Vision Group disables its e-paper application for an upgrade[1]
Product generation
The group disabled its e-paper application while working on an upgrade to the service.
- 2016
New Vision Group partners with Wakaliwood Uganda[1]
Campaign
The group entered a partnership with Wakaliwood Uganda intended to promote Uganda’s film industry.
- 2015
New Vision Group launches an e-paper mobile application[1]
Product launch
The group introduced a global mobile e-paper application to extend access to its newspaper content beyond printed distribution.
Sources1 sources
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