{"id":32637,"date":"2026-09-04T03:03:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T06:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/?p=32637"},"modified":"2026-09-07T05:58:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T08:58:57","slug":"uganda-regulator-uncovers-illegal-gaming-equipment-workshop-in-kibuku","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/uganda-regulator-uncovers-illegal-gaming-equipment-workshop-in-kibuku","title":{"rendered":"Uganda regulator uncovers illegal gaming equipment workshop in Kibuku"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The operation forms part of Uganda\u2019s Mashine Haramu campaign targeting unlicensed gaming activities and illegal gaming machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Uganda.- Uganda\u2019s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB)<\/strong> has uncovered a suspected gaming equipment manufacturing workshop during an enforcement operation targeting illegal gaming businesses in Kibuku<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The operation began with intelligence on four gaming outlets in Kibuku Town that the regulator identified as operating illegally. The outlets were linked to Chinese national Liang Zhang Chen<\/strong>, according to the NLGRB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The investigation widened after a tip from an informant directed officers to Zhang Chen\u2019s residence in Pallisa<\/strong>. A search of the property revealed a workshop that investigators said was being used to manufacture gaming equipment. The finding expanded the operation beyond the four illegal gaming outlets and raised questions about the wider supply of equipment to unlicensed gaming businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the NLGRB has not disclosed what equipment was found, how much was recovered or whether the workshop supplied the four outlets or other gaming operators. It has also not said whether Zhang Chen was arrested or whether charges have been filed in connection with the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The enforcement action involved police officers from the Bukedi region<\/strong>, including the Regional Police Commander, the Regional Criminal Investigations Department officer and officers from Kibuku District. The regulator thanked the officers for their assistance during the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Praising the informant whose tip helped investigators locate the Pallisa residence, the NLGRB urged the public to report suspicious gaming activities and provide information that could help identify illegal operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discovery comes as Uganda\u2019s gaming regulator continues enforcement against operators conducting gaming activities without the required licences under its Operation \u201cMashine Haramu\u201d campaign<\/strong>. In May 2026, the regulator reported seizing 169 illegal gaming machines<\/a> in a West Nile operation covering several locations including Arua, Maracha, Koboko, Nebbi and Pakwach.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\t\t\tSee also:<\/span><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\"\"<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tSee also:<\/span> Uganda MPs demand tougher action against illegal gaming in rural areas<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The operation forms part of Uganda\u2019s Mashine Haramu campaign targeting unlicensed gaming activities and illegal gaming machines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2395,"featured_media":12498,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"is_press_release":false,"is_interview":false,"is_opinion":false,"focusai_summary":"Uganda's National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB), under its \"Mashine Haramu\" campaign, uncovered a suspected illegal gaming equipment manufacturing workshop during an enforcement operation targeting unlicensed activities in Kibuku. Linked to Chinese national Liang Zhang Chen, this discovery expands regulatory focus beyond illegal outlets to the illicit supply chain, highlighting systemic challenges in combating unlicensed gaming. The NLGRB continues its crackdown, urging public cooperation to identify and dismantle illegal operations.","focusai_entities":"Uganda\u2019s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB), Liang Zhang Chen, Police, Regional Police Commander, Regional Criminal Investigations Department officer","focusai_location":"Uganda, Kibuku, Pallisa, Bukedi, West Nile, Arua, Maracha, Koboko, Nebbi, Pakwach","focusai_target_profile":"ceo_executive (0.9), regulator (1.0), compliance_legal (0.9), operator_casino (0.85), investor_analyst (0.8), supplier_vendor (0.95), journalist_researcher (0.9)","focusai_suggestions":[{"label":"Supply Chain Impact","query":"What are the broader implications for the legitimate B2B gaming equipment supply chain in Uganda and neighboring jurisdictions following the discovery of this illegal manufacturing workshop?"},{"label":"Regulatory Efficacy","query":"How will the NLGRB enhance its intelligence gathering and enforcement strategies to dismantle illegal gaming equipment supply networks and ensure comprehensive regulatory compliance across the market?"}],"footnotes":""},"categories":[60013,60019],"tags":[73],"class_list":["post-32637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-east-africa","category-regulation-news","tag-illegal-gambling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2395"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32637"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32637\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32749,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32637\/revisions\/32749"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/africa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}