The National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) has continued its responsible gaming outreach with a community awareness campaign for boda boda riders in several areas of Kampala.
Boda boda riders run motorbike and bicycle taxi services and the latest dialogue-based initiative was held at boda boda stations in Kireka, Luzira, Kinawattaka and Portbell.
Here, regulators engaged riders directly to discuss responsible gambling practices and the risks associated with excessive betting.
Officials took the time to distribute educational materials and emphasise that gambling should remain a form of entertainment rather than a financial dependency.
Iwan Musenero is a mental health expert from Butabika National Referral Hospital and spoke to the riders about preventing harmful gambling behavior, saying: “Responsible gaming begins with awareness. When people understand that gaming should remain entertainment – not a coping mechanism or a source of income – they are far more likely to stay in control.”
This type of activity from the regulator backs up its communications on a more public level – the NLGRB recently appeared alongside regulators from across Africa at the SiGMA Africa Summit to discuss the future of gaming regulation across the continent.
NLGRB CEO Denis Mudene spoke on a panel titled ‘Regulating Africa: Putting the Player First.’
He emphasized the importance of player protection in facilitating sustainable growth.
Muddle told the audience: “Africa’s gaming industry is no longer emerging – it is maturing. And with that maturity comes greater responsibility. The way forward lies in evidence-led policy that protects players while enabling sustainable sector growth.”
One of the key takeaways from the panel was around the need to explore harmonized licensing standards and a continent-wide reporting mechanism.
Community outreach is an important part of the NLGRB’s approach, with the organization recently having run RG training sessions with traders at the Kitooro Market in Entebbe as well
