The Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has expressed its apprehension regarding the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) for its failure to create a comprehensive national register of gaming and betting machines.
According to Section 36 of the Lotteries and Gaming Act of 2015, it is mandated that the Board should establish and maintain a national register for all gaming or betting machines and devices produced within or imported into Uganda. However, since the inception of the Act, the Board has not complied with this legal requirement.
In a presentation of the committee’s findings on the Auditor General’s report of NLGRB for the Financial Year 2021/2022, Hon. Roland Ndyomugyenyi (INDEP. Rukiga County) pointed out that the absence of such a register complicates the process of monitoring and license renewal in the industry. Ndyomugyenyi emphasized that this exposes industry players to the risk of using inappropriate machinery and equipment. The committee conveyed these concerns during the plenary sitting on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
During the committee’s inquiry, the accounting officer explained that the creation and maintenance of a national register for gaming equipment and devices necessitates the establishment of technical standards for testing these items. The entity developed 14 technical standards and submitted them to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) for approval in 2021. However, UNBS has yet to approve these standards despite numerous reminders. Ndyomugyenyi proposed that UNBS should review and approve the technical standards for machine and equipment licensing within 30 days from the date of adoption of the Committee Report.
COSASE also expressed its apprehensions about the Minister of Finance’s failure to develop regulations for the implementation of the Lotteries and Gaming Act of 2015. Regulations yet to be established since 2015 include those pertaining to handling complaints and dispute resolution, the disposal of unclaimed prizes, regulating the appointment and use of agents by licensed lottery operators, and regulating the holding of lottery draws. The committee’s report pointed out that inadequate regulation might lead to operator abuses and hinder the responsible gaming implementation.
In response, Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, directed the Minister of Finance to expedite the preparation and presentation of the pending regulations. Hon. Yusuf Mutembuli (NRM, Bunyole East County) insisted on granting the minister a six-month timeframe to present the regulations, as he believed that a 30-day deadline would be unrealistic. Mutembuli highlighted that the absence of these regulations over the past eight years warranted a reasonable extension to ensure their development and implementation.
