Boda boda riders have been sensitised on safer gambling practices as part of the inaugural Africa Safer Gambling Week 2026, through a community outreach initiative organised by the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) in partnership with GOGO Electric.
The engagement formed part of the Board’s efforts to extend responsible gaming education beyond traditional industry audiences and directly into communities. Boda boda riders are among the groups targeted through its community outreach programme, alongside young people, market vendors and other working communities.
Through the partnership with GOGO Electric, 150 riders were mobilised to participate in the sensitisation exercise, equipping them with knowledge and practical guidance on safer gambling while encouraging them to share responsible gaming messages within their networks and communities.
Participants were urged to treat gambling as a form of entertainment rather than a source of income, set personal limits and seek help if gambling begins to negatively affect their finances, relationships or overall wellbeing.
Davis Mutungi, a clinical psychologist with Safe Places Uganda, led a practical session on gambling behaviour, helping participants understand how gambling works, recognise the warning signs of gambling addiction and identify when and how to seek professional support.
The session also explored the psychology behind gambling, including how the brain can create a false sense of confidence about the likelihood of winning. Participants were guided on how such perceptions can contribute to risky gambling behaviours, including chasing losses in an attempt to recover money already lost.
The riders were further informed that people experiencing gambling-related harm can access free, confidential counselling and professional support through the Board’s responsible gaming programme.
The engagement also featured an interactive financial literacy session facilitated by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Uganda. Discussions focused on saving, financial planning and making informed financial decisions.
The session reinforced a central message of the campaign: gambling should not be treated as a means of earning an income or resolving financial difficulties. Instead, participants were encouraged to adopt responsible financial habits and make deliberate decisions about their money.
Africa Safer Gambling Week 2026 is a continental initiative convened by the African iGaming Alliance in collaboration with regulators and supported by industry associations, gaming operators and safer gambling organisations across Africa.
The initiative promotes safer gambling practices, informed decision-making, player protection and greater public awareness of available support services for people experiencing gambling-related harm.
In Uganda, the campaign builds on the Board’s ongoing responsible gaming interventions, which include community and school sensitisation programmes, self-exclusion mechanisms, counselling and referral services.
Through partnerships with community groups and private-sector organisations, the Board continues to promote awareness of gambling-related risks and encourage individuals to make informed choices that protect their financial stability and personal wellbeing.