Uganda’s Gaming Regulator Seizes Over 6,000 Illegal Machines in Operation “Mashine Haramu”

The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) of Uganda has announced that more than 6,000 illegal gaming machines have been seized nationwide under “Operation Mashine Haramu.” On 14 October the campaign intensified with the confiscation of over 80 unlicensed machines in the cities of Mbarara and Ibanda.

In a statement published 17 October 2025, the NLGRB’s Operations Manager, Steven Tabaruka, confirmed that the enforcement drive, launched earlier this year, has resulted in the impounding of “more than 6,000 illegal machines” across Uganda.

 The regulator said that in the most recent phase of the campaign, over 80 machines were removed in coordinated raids in Mbarara and Ibanda on 14 October.

The operation targets unlicensed gambling venues, machine-suppliers and operators who exploit Ugandans, especially youth, through unregulated slot machines and “fish-table” games. The campaign underscores the NLGRB’s pledge to protect consumers and regulate the gaming industry in line with the Lotteries & Gaming Act Cap 334.

 As part of its approach, the NLGRB has urged anyone operating gaming machines without a licence to regularise their activities — pointing to its district offices in Mbarara and its headquarters in Kampala for licensing dialogue.

 Industry observers note that such large-scale seizures signal rising regulatory enforcement in East Africa’s gaming sector, where unlicensed machines have long operated in legal grey zones. The scale of the action sends a strong message that illicit gaming hardware will not be ignored.