The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board of Uganda (NLGRB) has bolstered its collaboration with district leaders through a series of stakeholder engagement meetings in Lira and Gulu.
The sessions, held in the respective district boardrooms, aimed to raise awareness of the Board’s mandate, encourage responsible gaming and promote cooperation in enforcement and compliance.
Attendees included Chief Administrative Officers, senior management staff, Community Development Officers, Health Educators and Sub-Accountants.
The meetings provided an opportunity for local leaders to share perspectives on the challenges posed by gambling within their communities.
One health educator shared a case in which university tuition funds were lost to gambling, while another example highlighted children diverting money meant for household purchases to play slot machines.
Good to know: Participants raised concerns about the widespread presence of slot machines and fish tables, noting that underage gambling often occurs secretly
Further discussion touched on regulatory clarity, including the distance required between gaming premises and restricted areas, as well as perceived contradictions between the Uganda Revenue Authority’s EFRIS system and the Lotteries and Gaming Act.
Participants recommended involving political leaders in future engagements to enhance community-wide cooperation.
The Board’s outreach was welcomed by district officials, who commended the initiative and thanked the NLGRB for opening regional offices. Many expressed that the sessions had improved their understanding of the regulator’s role and stressed the importance of continued training and sensitisation.
These engagements follow the launch of the NLGRB in August, when the Government charged the body with overseeing Uganda’s gaming sector and prioritising public protection alongside market regulation.
