NLGRB chief uses Kyankwanzi retreat to push responsible gaming ahead of 2027 renewals
Denis Mudene framed safer gambling and protection of vulnerable people as a cross-government leadership priority during the five-day Public Sector Institutions Leadership Retreat.
Key takeaways:
- NLGRB CEO Denis Mudene attended the five-day Public Sector Institutions Leadership Retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi from September 27, 2026.
- The forum, organised by the Civil Service College Uganda and the Public Sector Chairpersons’ Forum, ran under the theme “From Governance to Impact” and focused on governance, execution and accountability in public institutions.
- In an October 4 LinkedIn post, Mudene said he used the retreat to outline the NLGRB’s mandate and to call on fellow public-sector leaders to act as responsible gaming ambassadors in their institutions and communities.
- His message centred on safer gaming, protecting vulnerable people and raising public awareness of responsible participation, alongside alignment with Uganda’s fourth National Development Plan and Tenfold Growth Strategy.
- The retreat comes as the NLGRB steps up activity ahead of the 2027 gaming licence renewal cycle, following a September pre-licensing engagement that highlighted compliance, player protection, regulatory technology and more consistent licensing processes.
Uganda.- Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) CEO Denis Mudene has called on public-sector leaders to support responsible gaming and the protection of vulnerable people during a five-day leadership retreat in Kyankwanzi.
Mudene joined board chairpersons and chief executives of public institutions at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) from September 27 for the Public Sector Institutions Leadership Retreat, held under the theme “From Governance to Impact”. The retreat, organised by the Civil Service College Uganda and the Public Sector Chairpersons’ Forum, focused on improving governance, execution and accountability across public institutions.
Participants were expected to examine constraints affecting public-sector service delivery, identify national priorities and develop strategies capable of producing measurable institutional and national results.
In a LinkedIn post on Sunday, October 4, Mudene said he used the meeting to outline the NLGRB’s mandate and the regulator’s role in developing a well-regulated, responsible and sustainable gaming sector. He also called on fellow public-sector leaders to act as responsible gaming ambassadors within their institutions and communities. His message centred on safer gaming, protecting vulnerable people and increasing public awareness of responsible participation.
The forum also addressed Uganda’s wider development targets. Sessions included discussions on aligning public institutions with the country’s fourth National Development Plan and the Tenfold Growth Strategy, which seeks to increase Uganda’s economy from about US$50bn in 2023 to US$500bn by 2040.
Mudene said the lessons from the retreat would inform his work at the NLGRB, particularly as the regulator continues to focus on responsible gaming and public protection. His participation comes as the regulator steps up activity ahead of Uganda’s 2027 gaming licence renewal cycle. In September, the NLGRB held its annual pre-licensing engagement with operators, where it highlighted compliance, player protection, regulatory technology and more consistent licensing processes as priorities for the sector.
The Board has also recently increased its responsible gaming activity, including public awareness initiatives on underage gaming and engagement with health-sector officials on support for people experiencing gambling problems.
