Uganda’s National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) took part in the 16th Gaming Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) Conference in South Africa, using the continental gathering to position the country as an increasingly active participant in cross-border gambling regulation.
The conference was held from 17 to 20 November in Sun City and brought together gambling regulators, policymakers, and enforcement authorities from across Africa. Uganda was represented by a senior delegation led by NLGRB Chairman Ken Kitariko and Chief Executive Officer Denis Ngabirano.
The regulator said its presence at GRAF 2025 focused on sharing Uganda’s recent regulatory reforms while engaging with counterparts on common challenges facing African gambling markets, including digitalisation, multi-jurisdictional operators, and gambling harm prevention.
Uganda highlights regulatory modernisation and digital compliance
During the conference, the NLGRB outlined its progress in modernising Uganda’s gambling framework, with particular emphasis on digital compliance systems and enforcement oversight.
Uganda has accelerated the use of technology to monitor licensed operators, improve reporting accuracy, and strengthen supervision across both land-based and online gambling activity. The regulator said these changes are aimed at improving transparency, reducing regulatory gaps, and ensuring that market growth does not undermine consumer protection.
The NLGRB also highlighted the expansion of responsible gaming initiatives, describing community engagement and harm-prevention tools as core pillars of its regulatory approach. Officials said these measures are increasingly important as digital betting products gain wider adoption across the region.
Cross-border regulation takes centre stage
Regional coordination was a central theme of Uganda’s engagement at GRAF 2025. The NLGRB noted that many gambling operators active in Uganda also operate in multiple African jurisdictions, creating enforcement challenges that cannot be addressed solely at a national level.
The regulator said collaboration with other African gaming authorities is necessary to improve oversight consistency, close enforcement loopholes, and address risks linked to unlicensed operators and regulatory arbitrage.
According to the NLGRB, participation in GRAF allows regulators to exchange intelligence, align enforcement approaches, and promote shared standards that support market integrity while protecting players.
GRAF 2025 focuses on technology and gambling harm
Now in its 16th year, the GRAF Conference remains the continent’s primary forum for gambling regulators. This year’s event was held under the theme “Strengthening Gambling Regulation in Africa: Collaborative Action Against Gambling Harm and Promotion of Responsible Play in a Tech-Driven Era.”
Discussions focused on how regulators can respond to technological change without weakening safeguards. Topics included digital supervision tools, anti-money laundering controls, player protection frameworks, and the regulatory implications of innovation in betting and gaming products.
GRAF President Mabutho Zwane said cooperation between regulators is essential if the sector is to grow responsibly. He told delegates that market expansion must not come at the expense of player protection and that regulators must work together to address shared risks.
Uganda positions itself as a regional regulatory partner
The NLGRB said Uganda’s participation reflected its broader strategy to align with international regulatory standards while adapting to the realities of digital gambling in African markets.
Officials stressed that engagement at forums such as GRAF supports Uganda’s efforts to strengthen its domestic framework while contributing to continent-wide discussions on best practice and enforcement coordination.
Founded in 2003, GRAF operates under a memorandum of understanding between African gambling regulators and serves as a platform for knowledge sharing, policy development, and cooperative action. The forum continues to play a central role as gambling activity expands across borders and regulatory expectations rise.
For Uganda, attendance at GRAF 2025 forms part of an ongoing effort to ensure that regulatory development keeps pace with market growth, technological change, and increased regional integration.
