Govt launches 5-year strategy to strengthen gaming sector regulation, boost revenue and curb illegal gaming

What the report says

The Independent Uganda reports that the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board has launched a five-year Strategic Plan for FY2025/26 to FY2029/30 in Kampala, aimed at tightening oversight of Uganda’s gaming industry, reducing illegal gambling, promoting responsible gaming and increasing the sector’s contribution to public revenue. The board also introduced Service Delivery Standards and a Client Charter intended to clarify commitments to licensed operators and the public.

According to the report, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi said the framework supports government priorities on domestic revenue mobilisation, digital transformation and accountable service delivery. NLGRB Chief Executive Officer Denis Mudene Ngabirano described the plan as a shift toward a more technology-driven regulator, with stronger enforcement against illegal gaming and expanded digital oversight. Permanent Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi urged the board to turn the documents into measurable institutional practice, while board chair Kenneth Robert Kitariko pointed to recent reforms in compliance, national supervision and technology use.

The strategy is linked to Uganda Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan and the government’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy. Its priorities include raising tax and non-tax revenue from gaming, encouraging responsible gambling, improving operations through innovation, and strengthening governance. The Independent says the board has recently worked with police, the Uganda Revenue Authority, the Financial Intelligence Authority and local governments to address compliance gaps.

Figures cited in the article show 4,400 illegal gaming machines were confiscated in FY2025/26, while compliance rose from 68% to 79%. The report also says government gaming revenue climbed from UGX 194 billion in FY2023/24 to UGX 368.02 billion in FY2025/26, with UGX 450 billion projected for FY2026/27.