National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, USPA partnership aims at promoting responsible gaming
17 October 2024, 1:42 pm
By Ronald Ssemagonja
Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) is the recognized body for sports journalists in the country and was formed in 1977. Yesterday at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, USPA started a journey of its partnership with National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) aimed at promoting responsible gaming. The chief executive officer (CEO) of NLGRB, Mr Ngabirano Denis said that their engagement with USPA members was needed long time ago. “I think what we focus to do is wanting to engage USPA that we forge a partnership especially focused on promoting responsible gaming in the gaming industry given that USPA has the platform the gaming board needs because they are the voice of what is happening in the sector and I want to appreciate USPA because they did receive our messages well” he said.
The CEO continued to say that part of what was done is sensitizing the USPA members about the gaming Act which gives National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board the mandate to do what they do and that they were happy with the question and answer session which he said gave them some homework to do adding that it was just a start of such engagements with USPA and he’s very sure that they will successfully fulfill the commitment. In conclusion, the CEO thanked the participants and confirmed that they have USPA as their lifetime partner to ensure that they have a fair and transparent gaming sector in the country.
In his statement, the USPA President, Lubega Al Sayad applauded NLGRB for partnering with them for a good cause and pledged on behalf of USPA members to continue working with them. ” We are trying to look at ourselves as a medium of organization and as a medium of communication and how we can use our power to reverse the dangers they bring out. We will be able to amplify this kind of commitment to its full cause” he said. It was also said that responsible gaming is a set of social responsibility initiatives by the gaming industry intended to mitigate the adverse effects of gaming. Hon. Kayemba Solo, the shadow minister in parliament believes that companies owned by foreigners should be required to contribute a portion of their profits to the country’s sports industry.
Denis Lukambi, the head of legal and compliance at Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) thought it wise to remind sports journalists about the laws governing their field especially when on air. “I caution you on running adverts in hours that aren’t stipulated in the law because ignorance of the law has no defense. I therefore remind you about your role when communicating about betting” he said. Other people who attended the meeting was Mr Sempala Robert from Human Rights for Journalists Network who also added his voice to that of others and thanked the two parties for the milestone. He confirmed his continuous support to the media fraternity especially journalists.