Uganda’s NLGRB takes responsible gambling messaging to Kampala boda boda stages

The regulator ran a community outreach in Kireka, Luzira, Kinawattaka and Port Bell, urging riders to treat gambling as entertainment, set limits and stay in control; Butabika mental-health experts also contributed to the session.

Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has carried out a responsible gambling awareness campaign targeting boda boda riders (motorcycle taxi drivers) in Kampala, taking guidance directly to busy taxi stages in Kireka, Luzira, Kinawattaka and Port Bell. The board said the goal was to reach people in their day-to-day environment with practical messages on safer participation in gaming.

In its official write-up, NLGRB emphasized a simple core point: gambling should remain a form of entertainment, not a source of livelihood. Officials encouraged riders to use limits and self-control, and to understand the risks associated with excessive play—especially in communities where betting products are widely accessible via mobile phones and informal networks.

The outreach also included open discussion with riders, allowing them to ask questions and share experiences. Focus Gaming News reports that Susan Hope, Senior Responsible Gaming Officer at NLGRB, framed responsible gambling as “balance,” while Ivan Musenero, a mental health expert from Butabika National Referral Hospital, highlighted the importance of awareness so gaming does not become a coping mechanism or perceived income strategy.

NLGRB described the stage-to-stage approach as part of its wider mandate to protect the public and build a safer gambling environment through community education, and it signaled that similar engagements will continue with other groups as part of its broader responsible gaming strategy.