Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has moved to clarify public perceptions of its role, saying its responsibilities extend well beyond issuing licences and enforcing gaming laws. The regulator said its work also includes monitoring operators, promoting responsible gaming, handling player complaints and raising public awareness about gambling through partnerships with government agencies and the media.
The comments were made by Senior Communications Officer Jacqueline Kamakune in a video shared on the Board’s X account. The NLGRB was established under Uganda’s Lotteries and Gaming Act to regulate and oversee the country’s gaming industry while protecting the public from the adverse effects of gambling.
Board says role extends beyond licensing
Kamakune said one of the biggest misconceptions about the NLGRB is that people believe it only issues licences and carries out enforcement operations.
She said the regulator’s mandate is much broader. Alongside licensing, the Board supervises gaming operators, monitors their activities and ensures they comply with their legal and regulatory obligations.
According to Kamakune, compliance also involves checking whether operators are meeting responsible gaming requirements and taking appropriate steps to protect players, business partners and the wider public from gambling related harm.
She said the Board works continuously with licensed operators to remind them of these obligations rather than only engaging with them during licensing or enforcement activities.
Responsible gaming and awareness campaigns
Kamakune said public education is another key part of the regulator’s work.
She explained that the Board works with media organisations to spread responsible gaming messages and improve public understanding of how gambling is regulated. She added that partnerships are necessary because the regulator cannot directly reach every part of the country.
The NLGRB also collaborates with the Ministries of Health, Education and ICT to support awareness campaigns. Through these partnerships, including access to government airtime, the regulator seeks to deliver responsible gaming information to communities across Uganda.
Kamakune said these efforts are intended to address common misconceptions about gambling and explain the realities of gaming.
Gambling is a game of chance
One of the messages highlighted in the video was that gambling should not be viewed as a guaranteed way to make money.
Kamakune said gaming is based on chance and probability, adding that there is “no sure win” in gambling. She identified this as one of the misconceptions the regulator wants to correct through its public education initiatives.
The Board said helping people understand the nature of gambling forms part of its wider responsible gaming strategy.
Support for player complaints
Kamakune also outlined the different functions carried out by the regulator’s departments.
She said the responsible gaming department focuses on encouraging safer gambling behaviour and supporting changes in public attitudes towards gaming.
Meanwhile, she said the legal department assists players who have complaints by providing arbitration and support where disputes arise.
The regulator said these functions demonstrate that its role goes beyond licensing and enforcement to include compliance monitoring, consumer protection and public education. According to the NLGRB, its overall mandate is to maintain a fair, transparent and well regulated gaming environment while safeguarding the public.
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