Uganda Seizes Over 6,000 Illegal Gaming Machines as Nationwide Crackdown Intensifies

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has stepped up its nationwide campaign against illegal gambling, announcing that more than 6,000 unlicensed gaming machines have been confiscated under Operation "Mashine Haramu." The latest phase of the enforcement initiative resulted in the seizure of an additional 215 illegal gaming machines across the West Nile region.

The operation is being conducted jointly by the NLGRB and the Uganda Police Force as part of a broader effort to eliminate unlicensed gaming machines, promote responsible gambling practices and ensure that only licensed operators are permitted to offer gaming services within Uganda’s legal framework.

In a statement published on LinkedIn, the regulator highlighted the scale of the ongoing enforcement campaign, stating:

“Through Operation ‘Mashine Haramu,’ NLGRB and the Uganda Police Force have impounded over 6,000 illegal gaming machines nationwide to date, including a recent seizure of 215 machines across West Nile.”

The regulator also stressed the risks posed by illegal gaming equipment, adding:

“Unlicensed machines expose communities to unregulated practices and put minors and vulnerable people at risk, and enforcement against them continues nationwide.”

According to the NLGRB, illegal gaming operators bypass licensing requirements, creating an uneven playing field for legitimate businesses that comply with Uganda’s gambling regulations. By removing these unauthorized machines from operation, the regulator aims to establish a more transparent, accountable and fair gaming industry while strengthening consumer protection.

Operation "Mashine Haramu" forms part of the Board’s wider strategy to improve regulatory compliance throughout the country. The NLGRB confirmed that inspections and enforcement exercises will continue in different regions and encouraged members of the public to assist authorities by reporting suspected illegal gaming machines through its dedicated hotline.

The regulator urged citizens to report illegal operations, stating:

“You can report illegal and unlicensed machines >> Toll-Free 0800 285 800.”

Enforcement campaign expands nationwide

The latest operation builds on a series of enforcement actions already carried out under Operation "Mashine Haramu" in several parts of Uganda.

In May, joint enforcement teams from the NLGRB and the Uganda Police Force confiscated 169 illegal gaming machines across the West Nile sub-region. The operation covered Arua City, Maracha, Koboko, Terego, Madi-Okollo, Nebbi, Paidha, Pakwach, Dei and Panyamur, along with trading centres and border communities including Arivu, Ombai, Olubu, Ochidri, Nyaravuru, Goli and Nsombo.

The regulator noted that similar enforcement activities have also taken place in Kampala, Eastern Uganda, Western Uganda, Masaka and Lira. Authorities warned that operators found breaching Uganda’s gambling laws face confiscation of their equipment as well as possible legal proceedings. Officials added that inspections will continue in additional regions as part of the nationwide campaign.

Electronic monitoring enhances regulatory oversight

The intensified enforcement campaign comes as the NLGRB continues strengthening oversight of Uganda’s regulated gambling sector through the National Central Electronic Monitoring System (NCEMS).

Earlier this year, NLGRB Chief Executive Officer Dennis Mudene Ngabirano told SiGMA News that the introduction of the NCEMS has significantly enhanced the regulator’s ability to monitor the gaming industry. The system enables the Board to independently verify gaming activity and revenues reported by licensed operators, reducing dependence on operator self-reporting while improving compliance, transparency and regulatory accountability.

Speaking in a separate interview with SiGMA News in June, Ngabirano explained that the regulator’s enforcement efforts go well beyond physical inspections.

“We follow the money,”

he said, noting that the NLGRB works closely with the Uganda Communications Commission, the Bank of Uganda and mobile money providers to identify illegal online gambling activities by tracing financial transactions.

Ngabirano also described how illegal gaming machines enter the country, stating:

“Most of these machines are imported as spare parts and assembled locally,”

He explained that customs officials and law enforcement agencies cooperate with the regulator to intercept the equipment before it reaches operators.

He further revealed that all confiscated gaming machines are destroyed in partnership with the National Enterprise Corporation to ensure they cannot be returned to the market.

Enforcement coincides with industry expansion

The ongoing crackdown comes as Uganda’s regulated gaming industry continues to expand.

Earlier this year, the NLGRB reported that the National Central Electronic Monitoring System had recorded gaming transactions exceeding UGX 8 trillion (approximately US$2.2 billion), illustrating both the size of Uganda’s regulated gambling market and the regulator’s growing ability to monitor licensed gaming activity.

The Board has previously credited stronger regulatory oversight, higher compliance levels and the implementation of digital monitoring technologies for helping modernize Uganda’s gambling regulatory framework while supporting licensed and compliant operators.

As Operation "Mashine Haramu" continues across the country, the NLGRB reaffirmed its commitment to removing illegal gaming machines from the market, protecting consumers, reducing unlicensed gambling activities and strengthening compliance with Uganda’s gambling laws.

By fLEXI tEAM