The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) appeared before the Parliament of Uganda’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ended June 30, 2025.
The NLGRB team, led by its leadership, provided updates on measures taken to address the audit findings and strengthen regulatory, financial and operational oversight within Uganda’s gaming sector.
The Auditor General’s concerns covered several areas, including the framework for approving gaming products, the processing of four foreign software providers outside the electronic licensing system, information-systems audit capacity, compliance with procurement reservation schemes, as well as performance measurement, revenue forecasting, budget absorption and monitoring and evaluation.
In response, NLGRB informed the Committee that it has developed and commenced implementation of the Uganda Games Classification and Product Approval Framework, a risk-based mechanism designed to guide the approval, monitoring and reassessment of gaming products.
The Board also clarified that the four foreign software providers were processed outside the electronic licensing portal because the system initially required applicants to have Ugandan Tax Identification Numbers and Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) registration numbers.
The four applications were subsequently evaluated and approved, with the prescribed fees paid through the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). The electronic licensing platform has since been reconfigured to accommodate eligible foreign applicants.
As part of its broader efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and compliance, NLGRB has commenced specialised information-systems audit training for its Internal Audit team. The Board has also incorporated procurement opportunities for women, youth and persons with disabilities, refined its performance indicators and introduced an automated monitoring and evaluation system.
The Committee was further briefed on the significant shortfall in non-tax revenue. According to NLGRB, the shortfall arose primarily from the performance of the National Lottery, whose first-year results fell substantially below projections due to insufficient market traction.
The operator subsequently ceased operations on June 30, 2026. NLGRB is currently undertaking an exit audit to establish any outstanding obligations and facilitate an orderly closure. At the same time, the Board is preparing to relaunch the National Lottery under a new operator.
NLGRB welcomed the opportunity to appear before COSASE and reaffirmed its commitment to accountability, transparency and continuous institutional improvement.
The Board noted that parliamentary oversight plays an important role in strengthening public-sector governance and regulatory effectiveness. It remains committed to implementing valid recommendations arising from the audit process and further strengthening public confidence in Uganda’s gaming sector.
