NLGRB Addresses Audit Findings Before Parliamentary Committee
On 26th August, Denis Mudene, Chief Executive Officer of the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB), led the board’s leadership team before the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE).
This appearance served as a vital public accountability session, focusing on addressing queries raised in the Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending June 30, 2025.
The report highlighted concerns across several critical areas of NLGRB’s operations, including product approval frameworks, licensing channels for foreign software providers, internal audit capabilities, and procurement compliance.
In response, the NLGRB team has developed and begun implementing a risk-based framework to address concerns regarding the approval of gaming products. This mechanism is specifically designed to approve, continuously monitor, and periodically reassess all gaming products.
Regarding the processing of four foreign software providers outside the electronic licensing system, Mudene clarified that this deviation occurred because the portal’s initial configuration required applicants to possess Ugandan Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) and Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) registration numbers. Despite this initial barrier, all four applications were thoroughly evaluated, approved, and their prescribed fees paid through the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). The platform has since been reconfigured to better accommodate eligible foreign applicants.
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To strengthen internal oversight, NLGRB has commenced specialized information-systems audit training for its internal audit team. Additionally, the board has actively incorporated opportunities targeted at women, youth, and persons with disabilities to ensure compliance with procurement reservation schemes.
Beyond operational controls, NLGRB has refined its performance indicators and introduced an automated monitoring and evaluation system to improve performance measurement, budget absorption, and revenue forecasting.
On the issue of the non-tax revenue shortfall, the team explained that this primarily resulted from the National Lottery’s first-year performance falling significantly below projections. The operator struggled to gain market traction and subsequently ceased operations on June 30, 2026. To manage this transition and protect public interests, NLGRB is conducting a comprehensive exit audit to identify any outstanding obligations and ensure an orderly closure. Moreover, the board is actively preparing to relaunch the national lottery with a new operator.
Mudene expressed his gratitude to the committee’s Chairperson and Members, emphasizing that parliamentary scrutiny is essential for effective public-sector leadership, transparency, and strengthening public confidence in Uganda’s gaming sector.
“We welcome Parliament’s scrutiny and remain dedicated to implementing every valid recommendation that enhances regulation, transparency, and public confidence in Uganda’s gaming sector,” Mudene concluded.
