Uganda’s NLGRB arrests technician in illegal machine crackdown
According to the NLGRB, the crackdown is intelligence-led, informed by community reports and driven by enforcement teams – with the goal of removing illegal gaming machines from Ugandan communities.
Key points:
– Uganda’s NLGRB arrests gaming technician with 399 slot machine motherboards and 15 machines in Kampala operation targeting illegal gaming equipment
– Operation “Mashine Haramu” represents a nationwide crackdown using intelligence-led enforcement to eliminate unlicensed gaming activities across Uganda
– Arrest follows recent stakeholder engagement meetings addressing concerns about underage gambling and unauthorised gaming equipment in northern districts
Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has arrested a gaming technician in Kampala as part of Operation “Mashine Haramu,” an ongoing nationwide enforcement initiative targeting illegal gaming operators, manufacturers and suppliers.
The operation represents an intensification of the regulator’s efforts to eliminate unlicensed gaming activities across the country.
Acting on intelligence from an informant, NLGRB’s Enforcement and Investigation team conducted a sting operation in Lungujja, Kikandwa, within Kampala’s Rubaga Division.
The operation resulted in the arrest of Wadedeya Asuman, who was found in possession of 399 slot machine motherboards, 15 Chinese-manufactured slot machines and two sacks containing assorted spare parts.
Good to know: Operation “Mashine Haramu,” meaning “illegal machines” in Swahili, represents an approach that combines intelligence gathering, community reporting and enforcement action
The suspect was apprehended at his shop and is currently detained at Central Police Station Kampala. He faces charges at Makindye Standards Court for making gaming and betting machines available for use – a direct offence under the Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap. 334.
The NLGRB describes the ongoing Mashine Haramu operations as intelligence-led, community-informed and enforcement-driven initiatives designed to protect the public from adverse gaming effects.
The arrest follows recent stakeholder engagement meetings conducted by the NLGRB in northern districts, including Lira and Gulu. These sessions brought together district officials, health educators and community development officers to address concerns about underage gambling and the widespread presence of unauthorised gaming equipment.
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