Government Destroys Over 5,000 Illegal Gaming Machines in Uganda

By Joellah Anshemeza

In a decisive enforcement operation, the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has destroyed over 2,000 illegal gaming machines at Luwero Industries in Nakasongola, bringing the total number of dismantled unlicensed gaming devices to over 5,000.

The destruction exercise, conducted in partnership with Luwero Industries—an authorised e-waste handler under the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC)—demonstrates the Board’s intensified efforts to eliminate illegal betting operations and enforce the Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap 334.

Dennis Ngabirano Mudene, CEO of the NLGRB, reaffirmed the Board’s mandate: “We are tasked with supervising, licensing, and regulating all gaming activities in Uganda. More importantly, we are committed to protecting Ugandans from the adverse effects of unregulated gambling.”

Under Section 67 of the Act, operating any form of gaming, including casinos, bingo halls, or betting machines without a license is a criminal offense punishable by fines or imprisonment. The Board’s enforcement unit routinely carries out nationwide compliance inspections, and, upon confirmation of illegal operations, seizes offending equipment. The machines are stored and documented before destruction, which takes place under court order from the Standards and Utilities Court in Makindye.

Dennis Ngabirano Mudene, CEO NLGRB

Mr. Ngabirano also addressed public concerns about the integrity of the confiscation process. “Claims that these machines re-enter the market are false. The entire process—from seizure to destruction—is audited, documented, and supervised. Unfortunately, we have had cases of imposters conducting rogue operations in the name of the Board. Three such cases are currently before court.”

The Board also emphasized its oversight of gaming equipment importation, warning that only licensed distributors are allowed to operate legally in Uganda.

Beyond enforcement, the Board advocates for player protection through licensing. “Licensing protects the player,” said Mr. Ngabirano. “If a licensed operator defaults on paying out winnings, we can intervene and, if necessary, use the operator’s bank guarantee to compensate the player.”

During the June 18 operation, Luwero Industries played a critical role in ensuring the environmentally responsible disposal of the destroyed machines. Waste Manager Mariam Kantinti explained that the machines are sorted into plastic, wood, metal, cables, and glass. “We reuse the wood in our boilers, shred plastics for recycling, melt down the metals, and safely dispose of cables and ash in engineered landfills.”

Mariam Kantinti, Manager Waste Luwero Industries.

She warned that improper disposal poses serious environmental risks. “These machines contain non-biodegradable materials like plastic that take over a thousand years to decompose, threatening biodiversity and ecosystems.

Joellah is a Communications Officer at the Government Citizens Interaction Centre