Uganda’s newly established National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has been officially inaugurated and has begun its work, marking a new era of oversight for the country’s rapidly growing gambling sector.
During a formal session in Kampala, legislators and government officials urged the new body to adopt a proactive mandate focused on addressing the rising concerns of gambling-related harm, particularly among the nation’s youth.
The board is now the primary authority responsible for the comprehensive regulation of Uganda’s betting and lottery industries. However, speakers at the launch emphasized that its role must extend far beyond simple licensing and revenue collection.
Members of Parliament stressed the urgent need for the regulator to prioritize public protection and to strike a delicate balance between effective market oversight and robust consumer safeguards.
These calls come as the country grapples with the social impacts of an expanding gaming market, including concerns about betting addiction, the rise of unlicensed operators, and the prevalence of underage gambling.
Officials from the Ministry of Finance were present to affirm that the board’s creation is a deliberate government effort to formalize, stabilize, and more effectively monitor all gambling activities within Uganda.
Matia Kasaija, the Minister of Finance, who officially inaugurated the new board, acknowledged the dual nature of the industry.
The Government recognizes the importance of the gaming sector. Not only as a source of non-tax revenue, but also in promoting responsible gaming.
The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board is now expected to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to develop and implement a new, comprehensive regulatory framework.
This framework will be tasked with creating new policies aimed at fostering a safer gambling environment while allowing the formalized sector to contribute positively to the national economy.
