Uganda regulator cracks down on illegal gaming manufacturing in Nebbi District
Chinese national Zhou Juhua had been operating under the alias “Mr. Lin”, falsely presenting himself as a licensed gaming machine manufacturer.
Uganda’s gambling regulator the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has arrested a foreign national found operating an unlicensed gaming manufacturing and supply operation in Nebbi District, northern Uganda.
In a statement, the Board said its regional enforcement team in Gulu, working with the Uganda Police Force, carried out a targeted search in Makor Nyacara Ward that resulted in the arrest of Zhou Juhua, a Chinese national. Authorities said Zhou had been operating under the alias “Mr. Lin”, falsely presenting himself as a licensed gaming machine manufacturer.
During the operation, officers recovered a large cache of gaming equipment, including seven fish tables, 26 slot machines, five television screens and more than 120 gaming motherboards and assorted spare parts. Regulators believe the equipment was intended for illegal deployment across unlicensed gaming outlets, bypassing Uganda’s regulatory and tax frameworks.
The NLGRB said preliminary investigations indicate that Zhou’s activities violated provisions of the Lotteries and Gaming Act, which mandates that all gaming manufacturers, suppliers and operators be duly licensed before conducting business in the country. The regulator is now working with law enforcement agencies to establish the full extent of the operation and identify potential distribution networks linked to the seized machines.
Commending the Makor community and local security agencies for their cooperation, the Board reiterated its commitment to maintaining a fair, transparent and well-regulated gambling market. It urged members of the public to continue reporting suspected illegal gaming activities as Uganda strengthens oversight of both land-based and online gambling operations nationwide .
