The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has launched its Strategic Plan for FY2025/26–FY2029/30, outlining a five-year roadmap aimed at strengthening regulation, curbing illegal gambling, promoting responsible gaming and increasing the sector's contribution to domestic revenue.
The Board also unveiled its Service Delivery Standards and Client Charter, which are intended to improve accountability, establish clear service commitments and enhance service delivery for licensed operators and the public.
Launching the strategy, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Henry Musasizi, said the framework aligns with the government's broader agenda on domestic revenue mobilisation, digital transformation and improved public service delivery.
"The Strategic Plan, Client Charter and Service Delivery Standards represent more than policy documents. They represent a commitment to accountability, innovation, responsible gaming and national development. They provide a clear framework for enhancing revenue mobilisation, strengthening regulation, protecting consumers and improving service delivery over the next five years," Musasizi said.
NLGRB Chief Executive Officer Denis Mudene Ngabirano said the strategy marks the beginning of a new phase in the Board's evolution as a modern, technology-driven regulator, with a strong focus on eliminating illegal gambling and strengthening public confidence in the sector.
"Illegal gaming undermines legitimate businesses, deprives government of revenue and exposes vulnerable Ugandans to unnecessary risk. This Strategic Plan marks the beginning of the next phase in the Board's evolution as a modern, technology-driven regulator," Ngabirano said.
"Over the next five years, we will strengthen enforcement against illegal gaming, expand digital oversight, promote responsible gaming and improve service delivery. Coupled with our recent ISO/IEC 27001 certification, these efforts will strengthen the security of our digital regulatory systems, protect operator and player data, and build greater public confidence in a transparent, responsible gaming sector that contributes to Uganda's economic development."
The Strategic Plan is aligned with Uganda Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) and the government's Ten-Fold Growth Strategy. It is anchored on four strategic priorities: increasing tax and non-tax revenue from the gaming sector, promoting responsible gaming, driving operational excellence through technology and innovation, and strengthening institutional governance.
Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi urged the Board to ensure the strategy delivers measurable outcomes, emphasising that implementation will determine its success.
"A Strategic Plan without implementation remains a statement of intent. Service Delivery Standards without compliance remain aspirations. A Client Charter without accountability becomes only a public relations document. The challenge before NLGRB is therefore to convert these instruments into daily institutional practice and measurable public value," Ggoobi said.
Board Chairman Kenneth Robert Kitariko said the strategy builds on reforms implemented over the past year to improve compliance, expand nationwide oversight and deploy technology to enhance transparency, accountability and revenue assurance.
"We reaffirm the Board's readiness to work closely with the Ministry to advance sound governance, fiscal accountability, effective regulation and public protection in the lotteries and gaming sector. We look forward to your guidance and support as we strengthen the sector's contribution to Uganda's development agenda," Kitariko said.
Over the past year, the Board has intensified enforcement against illegal gambling, strengthened age verification measures, expanded responsible gaming programmes and increased collaboration with the Uganda Police Force, Uganda Revenue Authority, Financial Intelligence Authority and local governments to improve compliance and consumer protection.
During the 2025/26 financial year, authorities confiscated 4,400 illegal gaming machines, while compliance levels improved from 68 percent to 79 percent.
Technology is expected to play a central role in implementing the new strategy. Through the National Central Electronic Monitoring System (NCEMS), the Board has improved oversight of gaming transactions, strengthened tax reconciliation and enhanced the detection of suspicious activity.
The Board also reported that more than 16,600 players have voluntarily enrolled in digital self-exclusion programmes that restrict their participation in gaming.
In June 2026, NLGRB attained ISO/IEC 27001 certification, the internationally recognised standard for Information Security Management Systems. According to the Board, the certification strengthens cybersecurity governance, enhances protection of operator and player data, and reinforces confidence in its increasingly digital regulatory systems.
The gaming sector has continued to register steady growth under the Board's regulatory framework. Government revenue from the sector increased from Shs194 billion in FY2023/24 to Shs323 billion in FY2024/25 before rising to Shs368.02 billion in FY2025/26. Revenue is projected to reach Shs450 billion in FY2026/27, driven by stronger compliance, enhanced digital monitoring and continued formalisation of the gaming industry.