Uganda's gaming regulator wants to be judged on predictability rather than punishment. Denis Mudene Ngabirano, chief executive of the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, set out that position in a feature published by the Weekend Daily Monitor on 30 October 2026.
He argued that regulation should create an environment businesses can plan around while protecting the public, and that the starting point in any conflict must be the law and the public interest.
The numbers behind the argument
Between FY2023/24 and FY2025/26 the board received 125 consumer complaints involving an estimated Shs266bn, about US$62.7m. It resolved 112 of them, a rate of 90.5 per cent.
In FY2025/26 alone, 16,811 players asked to be self-excluded. Thirty-two people identified as problem gamblers received counselling. The gap between those two figures is the part worth watching.
What he says about technology
Ngabirano's position is that digital tools should improve the evidence behind regulatory decisions, not become an achievement in themselves.
He also warned against gambling becoming a substitute for employment, or a reason to risk money meant for household essentials, and called for public education as betting becomes easier to reach through mobile apps.
What it means for operators
The practical signal is consistency. A regulator promising predictability is also promising to explain its decisions, and to hold itself to the service standards it sets for licensees.
It lands as Uganda keeps up enforcement, having blocked illegal betting sites and destroyed seized machines, and as Bet1Cent prepares to leave the market by December 2026. The interview was reported by Focus Gaming News.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads Uganda's gaming regulator?
Denis Mudene Ngabirano is chief executive of the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board.
How many complaints has the NLGRB handled?
125 between FY2023/24 and FY2025/26, involving an estimated Shs266bn (US$62.7m). It resolved 112, a 90.5 per cent rate.
How many Ugandans asked to self-exclude?
16,811 players sought self-exclusion during FY2025/26, while 32 people identified as problem gamblers received counselling.
What is the regulator's stated priority?
A predictable environment that supports investment while protecting consumers, with technology used to support evidence-based decisions.
Does this change Uganda's licence rules?
No. This is the regulator setting out its approach, not a change to licence conditions.
