By Aggrey Baba
During a recent heated parliamentary session, Hon. Dicksons Kateshumbwa, the Sheema Municipality MP, sounded the alarm over Uganda’s growing addiction to betting, revealing that even government-funded poverty eradication money like Emyooga and Parish Development Model (PDM) funds are now being gambled away in betting walls.
Speaking on the new “Betting Gateway” tax policy, Kateshumbwa expressed concern that betting has become a lifeline for many unemployed Ugandans, despite its dangers, how someone at a betting center in my constituency where staked UGX 1 million, hoping to win 10, but he lost, he nearly ran mad.
This painted a picture of the country’s gambling crisis. “Let’s be honest. People are betting with government funds meant to fight poverty. Something is fundamentally wrong,” the MP added.
His comments came as was discussing the government’s plan to ban cash transactions in the betting sector and link all betting companies directly to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) through a digital platform called the Betting Gateway.
The system, which will monitor bets and winnings in real-time and deduct taxes instantly, has triggered an unrest among owners of betting companies, who say the policy is rushed, insensitive, and likely to destroy thousands of jobs.
One prominent figure in the betting industry, Dr. Innocent Nahabwe, also the CEO of Galaxy Media group, warned that banning cash will cripple operations, especially in rural areas where mobile money services are still unreliable.
“Where do you want these people to go? Let’s not act like betting is a disease. For some youth, this is the only way to earn something, however small. You want to ban cash? Fine. But how do you expect someone deep in village to access a betting app when there’s not even 2G network?”
The Zina boss added that the industry is not against taxation but wants a phased, inclusive process. “We can’t just wake up one day and cut off cash. That’s like kicking the ladder while people are still climbing.”
But the architect of the policy, Rwampara County MP Amos Kankunda, defended the move, arguing that the Betting Gateway will help URA plug revenue leakages and enforce tax compliance.
“Betting is not going anywhere. It just has to be regulated properly. You can’t let people graze cows without a fence.”
Many operators fear that the new system will favor big players with strong tech infrastructure while suffocating small local businesses. Others accuse the government of trying to push them out in favor of unnamed “untouchable” companies with connections in big positions. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
