Uganda’s NLGRB deepens cooperation with OMPA to widen responsible gaming awareness

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board has moved to strengthen cooperation with the Online Media Publishers Association as it pushes for broader public education, stronger responsible gaming messaging and closer alignment between regulation and digital communication.

The National Lottery and Gaming Regulatory Board, or NLGRB, has met with the Online Media Publishers Association Uganda to expand cooperation on public awareness and regulation of the gaming sector. Reports on the engagement say both sides agreed to work more closely on amplifying the Board’s mandate and improving public understanding of gaming rules and risks.

The discussions focused on both land-based and online gaming, with particular emphasis on responsible gaming, public education and coordinated communication across platforms. Adrine Otunga, identified in coverage as the regulator’s legal manager, said the partnership is intended not only to drive positive mindset change but also to help shape policies that support responsible gaming across all channels.

OMPA also signalled that it is ready to support the regulator through content development and wider public communication. According to the reports, the association said it would help deliver accurate and relevant information in line with the Board’s mandate, reflecting a model in which media platforms are treated as active partners in harm-reduction messaging rather than just external observers of the sector.

The move fits into a broader pattern already visible in Uganda. On its official website, the NLGRB recently said a separate media engagement in Northern Uganda was aimed at explaining the Board’s mandate, promoting responsible gaming and fostering collaboration in enforcement and compliance. That suggests the regulator is increasingly treating media cooperation as part of its wider supervisory strategy as gaming expands across digital channels.

For Uganda’s gaming market, the significance of the OMPA engagement lies in the regulator’s recognition that enforcement alone is not enough in a fast-growing digital environment. If the cooperation develops into a sustained awareness campaign, it could help the Board push more consistent messaging on compliance, player protection and the social risks associated with gambling, especially as online participation continues to grow. This final point is an inference based on the reported meeting and the regulator’s broader public-engagement activities.