Ugandans are projected to stake over Shs14.1 trillion on gambling and sports betting in the 2025/26 financial year, marking a sharp rise from Shs8.3 trillion recorded in 2024/25, the National Lotteries and Gaming Board (NLGB) has revealed.
The disclosure was made by Bernard Winyi, Senior Manager for Finance and Administration at the NLGB, while presenting the Board’s 2026/27 National Budget Framework Paper before Parliament’s Finance Committee.
“So now, through the National Central Electronic Monitoring System, we have more visibility of the operators and the activity in the gaming industry. In 2022/23, the amount of money we were seeing was based on self-declaration by operators and stood at Shs2.4 trillion. When we operationalised the system in 2023/24, stakes grew to Shs4.3 trillion,” Winyi said.
He added, “In 2024/25, because of that visibility, it grew to Shs8.3 trillion, and in this financial year, 2025/26, we are projecting that the amount of money going through gambling activities will reach Shs14.1 trillion. The system has therefore enabled us to improve visibility and, in turn, enhance tax collections.”
Winyi’s remarks were in response to Amos Kankunda (Rwampara County), Chairperson of the Finance Committee, who sought an update on the Shs6.833 billion National Central Electronic Monitoring System (NCEMS), acquired to monitor gambling activities across the country.
“The new system that we approved has not been discussed. How is it working? Has it contributed to revenue leakages, or has it helped improve collections?” Kankunda asked.
The Board also revealed that half-year revenue from gambling and sports betting between July and December 2025 reached Shs176 billion, with projections indicating collections will hit Shs391 billion by the end of July 2026. This is an increase from Shs323 billion collected in the 2024/25 financial year.
“In 2024/25, we realised Shs323 billion. In 2025/26, at half-year, we had collected Shs176 billion, and we project to collect Shs391 billion by the end of the financial year. Similarly, non-tax revenue has been growing. Our 2026/27 budget will be utilised to support a 15% increase in revenue, from the projected Shs391 billion this year to Shs450 billion in 2026/27,” Winyi said.
The NLGB attributes the growth to the NCEMS, which has enhanced transparency, reduced revenue leakages, and provided government with clearer oversight of Uganda’s rapidly expanding gambling sector.
