UNBS signs MoU with LGRB to enforce standards among gaming companies

  16th August , 2018 ,       Hits: 3154

Kampala, 16^th August, 2018 – The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and the National Gaming Board (LGRB) have signed a memorandum of understanding to enforce standards in the nascent Lotteries and gaming sector in accordance with Section 4 of the Lotteries and Gaming Act No.7 of  2016.   

The signing took place between the UNBS Executive Director, Dr. Ben Manyindo and the Executive Director LGRB, Mr. Edgar Agaba at UNBS Head Office in Bweyogere Industrial Park.

Dr. Manyindo said, “The MoU is an opportunity for UNBS to work with LGRB in adopting, adapting and updating common standards for use in lotteries and gaming technology”.

According to the MoU, UNBS will establish a Technical Sub-committee for developing standards in the gaming betting sector and also coordinate Uganda’s participation in international standardization work related to gaming.

Last year, UNBS through the technical committee developed standards for casinos and for limited pay out machines which are commonly used among the lotteries and gaming community. The standards are designed to ensure regulation and supervision of gaming activities/institutions to hold them to a code of conduct and make them more accountable.

“UNBS will involve members of gaming community in the development of industry standards and support them to undertake training relevant training in standards implementation and ensuring compliance,” Dr. Manyindo said.

Drawing from Section 4 (h) of the Gaming Act which mandates the Board to set and approve standards for the supply, installation or adaptation of gaming and betting software, the Chief Executive Officer, LGRB, Mr. Edgar Agaba said the signing of the MoU comes at an opportune time when LGRB is focused on enhancing enforcement operations to promote compliance to sector, regulations, stamp out illegal operations and ensure implementation of international best practices and standards.

The standards that have so far been developed and approved include US 1580-1:2017 for Gaming equipment and requirements for Casinos and US 1580-2: 2017 for Gaming equipment and requirements for Limited pay out machines. However, other standards are under development including US 1580-3 Monitoring and Control systems, US 1580-4 Wagering record keeping software, US 1580-5 Local area and wide area jackpot and progressive equipment requirements, US1580-7 Token requirements, and US 1580-8 Roulette wheels requirements, US1580-9 central and monitoring system among others.

“The MoU will allow us to work with UNBS to enable compliance to sector based standards and ensure value for money, Mr Agaba Said. He however noted that some of the sports betting operators have multitudes of outlets that could not efficiently be reached and inspected.

“Working together with UNBS we shall ensure that we reach the wider betting community and ensure enforcement of standards,” Mr Agaba added.

About UNBS

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a statutory body responsible for developing and promoting standards and quality of products and services to facilitate fair trade, promote local industries and protect consumers.

About LGRB

The Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board is a body corporate established under the Lotteries and Gaming Act No. 7 of 2016 to license, supervise and regulate the establishment, management and operation of gaming activities in Uganda and to protect the citizens from the adverse effects of gaming. The Board has powers to conduct investigation, examination, inspection and issue guidelines, directives or instructions for the proper management of the industry.

For more information, please contact:

 

Godwin Bonge Muhwezi

Head, Public Relations,

Uganda National Bureau of Standards

Plot 2 - 12, Kyaliwajala Road, Bweyogerere Industrial Park,

P.O Box 6329 Kampala, Uganda

Tel: 0700930996

e-mail: godwin.muhwezi@unbs.go.ug

Website: www.unbs.go.ug

 

Jonathan Jeffrey Kyeyune

Head, Public and Corporate Affairs

The National Gaming Board

Plot 1 Colville Street, 4th floor, Communications House,

P. O BOX 5446 Kampala

Tel: 041 4231628

e-mail: j.kyeyune@ngb.go.ug