Legislators on the Committee of Finance, Planning and Economic Development have lauded the revenue collection performance of the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRG).
According to Bernard Winyi, the acting Executive Director of the Board, its annual non-tax revenue collections have grown from Shs1.14 billion in the financial year 2019/2020 to Shs8.79 billion in financial year 2024/2025.
“The Board registered an eightfold rise in non-tax revenue collection which was driven by improved licensing, revised fee structures and strengthened compliance systems,” he said.
Winyi also appreciated the committee for its budget support in financial year 2022/2023 that saw the procurement of the National Central Electronic Monitoring System which has improved visibility of operators and activities in the gaming industry.
He noted that before the implementation of the system, operators made self-declaration of money staked by individuals into gambling. “When we operationalised the system, the stakes grew to Shs4.3 trillion in 2023/2024 and Shs8.3 trillion in 2024/2025. In the financial year 2025/2026, we are projecting that gambling stakes will go up to Shs14.1 trillion. This visibility has enabled us to improve on tax collection,” Winyi said.
The Board’s annual revenue collections have also grown from Shs17.4 billion in the financial year 2015/2016 when it was established to Shs323 billion in 2024/2025.
Otuke County MP, Hon. Paul Omara commended the Board for its momentum in growing its non-tax revenue, and pledged to lobby for more budgetary support to improve its services.
“This particular team is moving in line with what URA is doing, and have grown tremendously. When they started, their collection was very small but look at the projections which they are making now; over Shs400 billion in revenue collections,” Omara said.
Hon. Xavier Kyooma (NRM, Ibanda County North) lauded the Board for its fiscal performance trend and urged its leadership to ensure that it does not backslide.
Hon. Dicksons Kateshumbwa (NRM, Sheema Municipality) questioned the Board’s capacity to curb the use of illicit gaming machines across the country and proposed that they work closely with local government structures like parish chiefs to identify illegal operators.
“You have confiscated 1,418 illegal gaming equipment and devices but these are not manufactured in Uganda, they are definitely imported. How do you collaborate with URA to curtail these illegal machines from coming in at importation?” Kateshumbwa asked.
Winyi noted that it is difficult to monitor the importation of illicit gaming devices given that they are brought in a discreet manner.
“Most of these illegal machines do not pass through customs as gambling machines, but as spare parts for computers like motherboards that are exempt from tax. They later get assembled into complete machines. We have engaged the URA customs team and agreed on how to identify them,” Winyi added.
The State Minister for Finance and Planning, Hon. Amos Lugoloobi called on the committee to support investment in the sector which he said can propel revenue collection from the proposed Shs450 billion to Shs1 trillion.
