Gambling in Uganda

When I first arrived in Uganda, from the drive from Entebbe Airport into Kampala, I would have said that gambling in Uganda was getting behind the wheel of a car or on a motorcycle.

Over the last 10 years or so, there has been a proliferation of lottery, casinos and sports betting in Uganda. Gambling related tax revenue has increased by about fifty fold to around UGX 13.6 billion in 2015/2016.  Alongside this and in contrast to the welcome revenue and taxes, gambling is also associated with undesirable socio-economic problems. In Uganda, as elsewhere in the world, excessive gambling can result in a wide range of problems affecting the individual, their family, their community and more widely society. The impact of excessive gambling can lead to mental health problems, financial worries, loss of employment, study and close relationships and legal difficulties; within families it can result in domestic violence and children with higher rates of behavioural, emotional and substance use problems; and the wider society, due to the likely increases in absenteeism from work, lost economic productivity and increased crime rates.
 
The negative impact of gambling is also becoming an increasing public health issues. although gambling is positioned as a legitimate recreational and leisure activity within Uganda, there is widespread recognition among health care professionals and policy makers alike that, like alcohol consumption. Currently, there are no specific policy targets relating to harm minimization strategies for problem gambling. The heightened exposure of Ugandans to gambling with betting shops (most of which are unlicensed) now visibly clustering together in even the smaller of towns represents an issue of significant concern. These issues are further exacerbated because of the underlining issues of poverty (in the rural areas of Uganda, most households have an income of less than $1 per day) and high levels of unemployment, especially amongst the young.

Strategies to increase education and public awareness regarding the issue of problem gambling in Uganda are of core necessity. There is no government strategy to address in negative impact of gambling on Ugandan society. Despite the significant tax revenue from the Ugandan government none of this income is being directed to fund initiatives to reduce problematic gambling, protect the young from becoming addicted to gambling or to alleviate the impact on the families of those with a gambling addiction.

When making the short walk from Caritas into Nebbi itself, I pass many groups of people (mostly young men) playing cards or rolling dice for money. Slot machines (albeit that when compared to the machines that are now commonplace in pubs and betting shops in the UK, they appear more like museum pieces) are found openly displayed outside shops and cafes on the roadside of even the smallest of towns. 

 Playing dice

Typical Ugandan slot machines

Playing cards