The Board’s action rests squarely on section 37(3) of the Lotteries and Gaming Act CAP 334. Under this clause, it may:
1. Plan with any person for the purpose of testing gaming or betting machines to ensure compliance with the required standards.
2. Require the holder or an applicant for a gaming or betting machine technical operating license to submit a machine to a test and to produce specified evidence of the result of the test.
Further authority flows from Regulation 7 of the Lotteries and Gaming (Gaming and Betting Machines) Regulations, S.1. No. 10 of 2017, which states that the Board may use “the services of an independent testing laboratory approved by the Board for inspection and certification of any gaming or betting machine or device.”
Relying on these provisions, the NLGRB invited applications from parties interested in prequalification as testing laboratories. The call made it clear that successful firms would undertake the inspection, testing, and certification of any gaming or betting machine, device, or software for three years.
The opportunity drew several applicants, but only two met every requirement set out in regulation 13(2) of S.1. No. 10 of 2017.
Both GLI Africa (Pty) Limited and BMM Testlabs Uganda Limited submitted comprehensive dossiers covering technical competence, impartiality safeguards, staffing credentials, and past performance.
After a detailed evaluation, the two applications met all the applicable requirements and were approved by the Board at its 144th meeting for the issuance of certificate of registration. Their endorsement confirms that Uganda now has local access to laboratories recognised worldwide for rigorous testing protocols.
For licence holders, easier access to accredited labs can shorten certification timelines and cut costs associated with sending hardware abroad. For players, the labs’ seal of approval translates into added assurance that games function exactly as advertised.
In a sector where the perception of fairness drives participation, such confidence can boost legitimate revenue streams and widen the tax base.
Uganda’s move mirrors trends in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and several U.S. states, where independent laboratories serve as neutral arbiters of technical compliance. By embedding GLI Africa and BMM Testlabs into its regulatory framework, the NLGRB signals ambition to “align our gaming industry with international benchmarks,” the board noted.
This alignment may also lure internationally recognised operators who demand stringent technical oversight before committing capital.
With certificates of registration forthcoming, GLI Africa (Pty) Limited and BMM Testlabs Uganda Limited will begin accepting equipment for evaluation. Operators should expect updated guidance on submission procedures, timelines, and fees in the weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, the NLGRB has reiterated that it will continue monitoring market developments to ensure that regulatory oversight and responsible gaming evolve alongside technology.
The approval of these two laboratories moves Uganda closer to a well-regulated, transparent, and trustworthy gaming environment—one where both economic growth and player protection stand on equal footing.
Source: GMB / NLGRB
