Uganda bans betting

President Yoweri Museveni decided to ban betting and announced no new licences will be issued or renewed.

Uganda.- The sports betting industry was growing rapidly in Uganda but was just struck with a huge blow by the government. President Yoweri Museveni banned betting and other forms of gambling in order to -supposedly – tackle problem gambling in the country.

“We have received a directive from President Museveni to stop licensing sports betting, gaming and gambling companies,” state Minister for Finance David Bahati said and explained no new licences will be issued nor existing ones will get renewed.

“The President has now directed the board which has been regulating them. From now onwards, no new companies are going to be licensed,” he said at the closure of the 2019 Brethren Conference of the Diocese of Kigezi and added: “Those which are already registered, no renewal of licences when they expire.”

Despite the announcement, National Gaming Board chairman Uganda Manzi Tumubweine told local media he hasn’t received any official communication on it and said: “I can’t comment on what I don’t know. They say they want to ban full betters, I don’t know how they are going to do it. As soon as I get the policy, you can call me and I comment about it. I know it, but I don’t want to comment on it because I have my views about it.”