The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has strengthened its regulatory capacity and stakeholder coordination through a week-long programme of targeted training and stakeholder engagements focused on Uganda Gaming Standards and the development of the Games and Approval Framework.
The engagements brought together the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court, licensed gaming operators and NLGRB staff, creating a platform for knowledge-sharing, technical capacity-building and coordinated regulatory action across Uganda’s gaming sector.
The programme focused on key areas including:
- Gaming systems and technical product standards
- Compliance and coordinated enforcement
- Tax compliance and revenue assurance
- Player protection and responsible gaming
- Classification, assessment and approval of gaming products
The engagements advance the NLGRB Strategic Plan for FY2025/26–FY2029/30, particularly its priorities around stronger regulation, responsible gaming, ICT and innovation, and institutional coordination.
A modern gaming industry, the NLGRB noted, cannot be regulated through legislation alone. Effective oversight requires knowledgeable institutions, clear technical standards, reliable data, coordinated enforcement and regulators equipped to assess increasingly sophisticated gaming machines, platforms and systems.
The training also supports the Board’s Client Charter commitment to transparent, professional, citizen-centered and technology-enabled regulation. It further advances the NLGRB Service Delivery Standards, which translate the Strategic Plan into measurable commitments across licensing, game approvals, machine registration, inspections, compliance monitoring, complaints management and responsible-gaming interventions.
Each participating institution contributed specialized expertise to strengthen Uganda’s regulatory framework. UNBS strengthened capacity in standards, quality assurance and conformity assessment, while URA contributed expertise in tax compliance and revenue assurance.
The Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court reinforced understanding of the enforcement and justice pathway, while licensed gaming operators provided practical industry experience and insights into the operational realities of gaming.
For NLGRB staff, the programme strengthened their capacity to interpret testing reports, evaluate gaming systems and conduct evidence-based regulatory audits.
By bringing these institutions and stakeholders together, the engagements are expected to promote a more coordinated and effective approach to gaming regulation, compliance and enforcement.
The NLGRB said the engagements ultimately contribute to a gaming industry capable of creating greater and more sustainable value for Uganda by:
- Protecting players and reducing illegal gaming
- Strengthening public confidence
- Supporting legitimate investment and innovation
- Optimizing tax and non-tax revenues for national development
The Board expressed its appreciation to Gaming Laboratories International, LLC (GLI) for providing expert facilitation and technical knowledge throughout the week. GLI’s contribution, the NLGRB said, strengthened the collective capacity of stakeholders to move from standards on paper to consistent, practical and effective regulatory oversight.
The engagements form part of the NLGRB’s broader efforts to build stronger regulatory institutions, improve service delivery, promote responsible gaming and ensure that Uganda’s gaming industry operates within a clear, transparent and effective regulatory framework. The Board reaffirmed its commitment to its vision of “A well-regulated gaming industry that benefits all.”
