Ugandan gambling regulator destroys 409 illegal gaming machines
The operation reflects the Board’s regular cooperation with law enforcement and the courts to remove unlicensed machines from circulation.
Uganda.- The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) carried out a court-approved destruction exercise on February 12 and 13, dismantling 409 pieces of illegal gaming equipment seized from unlicensed operators across the country.
The seized items included 160 slot machines, 112 fish tables and 137 sacks of spare parts. Luwero Industries Limited, a unit of the National Enterprise Corporation, conducted the destruction at its facility in line with the court directive. Any cash found inside the machines was remitted to the Consolidated Fund, as ordered. Luwero Industries has followed the same registered procedure in previous batches, ensuring each item is tracked from seizure to disposal.
The operation reflects the Board’s regular cooperation with law enforcement and the courts to remove unlicensed machines from circulation. It continues a pattern from 2025, when the Board destroyed 2,347 machines at the same Luwero facility in July, bringing the annual total to 3,347. From September 2025, under the police-supported Operation Mashine Haramu, more than 6,000 illegal machines were seized nationwide, with more than 3,000 destroyed.
In previous statements, NLGRB CEO Denis Mudene Ngabirano explained how unlicensed gaming machines enter the market: operators import parts listed as ordinary electronics and then hire local workers to assemble the cabinets.
The NLGRB reaffirmed its commitment to working with police and the judiciary to ensure all gaming outlets comply with the law. Players are advised to check for the official licence number and logo before placing any bets.
