Uganda’s gambling regulator and the Uganda Revenue Authority is enhancing its collaboration to improve tax compliance, monitor operators and share data, in response to the rapidly expanding betting and gaming market.
Officials from the National Lotteries & Gaming Regulatory Board met with URA Commissioner General, John Musinguzi, on April 24th to discuss cooperation on enforcement, tax obligations and the implementation of digital monitoring tools.
A key topic was the National Central Electronic Monitoring System (NCEMS), which provides regulators and tax authorities with direct insight into gaming transactions and operator activities.
Ugandan industry reports highlight NCEMS as a crucial component of the country’s compliance framework, helping to standardize reporting, enhance revenue tracking, and minimize financial leakages.
Kenneth Kitariko, Board Chairman, emphasised the necessity for closer institutional cooperation to improve oversight and verify reported industry revenues. Meanwhile, Musinguzi highlighted gaming as one of Uganda’s fastest-growing sectors and advocated for stronger systems to support compliance and enforcement.
The timing of these discussions is significant. Uganda has recently approved a unified 30% tax rate on betting and gaming, along with a 15% withholding tax on player winnings. This new tax regime is set to take effect on July 1st as part of the 2026 to 2027 budget framework. This latest meeting underscores the agencies’ focus not only on general oversight but also on preparing for the implementation of a more standardized tax structure, where digital monitoring will play a crucial role.
For operators, the message is clear: the next phase of regulation in Uganda will increasingly depend on real-time reporting, tax verification and coordinated enforcement. This heightened focus on compliance and revenue tracking aims to ensure that the rapidly growing sector contributes fairly and transparently to the national economy.
