Sports
The Alarming Rise of Gambling in Uganda
By 2017, studies estimated that over 40% of youth in Kampala had engaged in betting.
In recent years, Uganda has experienced an unprecedented surge in gambling, transforming what was once a modest pastime into a widespread phenomenon reshaping society. From the bustling streets of Kampala to rural trading centers, betting shops and online platforms have proliferated, driven by a mix of technological access, economic desperation, and a cultural affinity for risk. While this gambling boom has contributed to government revenues, with tax income soaring to Shs 151 billion in the 2022/23 fiscal year, it has also cast a dark shadow over individuals, families, and communities. The rapid increase in gambling requires urgent attention, as its unchecked growth threatens to unravel the social fabric of the nation.
Gambling in Uganda is not a new phenomenon. Traditional games like omweso indicate a cultural tolerance for chance, while colonial-era lotteries and post-independence casinos laid the groundwork for formal betting. However, the 2010s marked a critical turning point. The spread of affordable smartphones, mobile money platforms like Mobile Money, and a national obsession with soccer propelled sports betting into the mainstream. By 2017, studies estimated that over 40% of youth in Kampala had engaged in betting, a figure likely to be even higher today as offshore online platforms bypass local regulations. What began as a trickle of revenue at UGX 0.24 billion in 2002/03 has now become a torrent, but the social costs remain a pressing concern.
The statistics are stark, but the personal stories behind them are devastating, impacting men and women in different ways. Young men, often jobless or underemployed, are driving the gambling surge, with up to 45% of those aged 18-30 in urban areas betting regularly, drawn in by sports and the promise of quick cash. A 2023 study of university students found that males were over twice as likely to gamble weekly compared to their female peers, reflecting cultural norms linking risk to masculinity. For many, gambling becomes a trap. Some individuals spend 30% of their income on bets, spiraling into debt with loan sharks or pawning family assets. Addiction is widespread, with up to 20% of male bettors showing signs of problem gambling, leading to anxiety, depression, and worse.
Women, although less visible in discussions around gambling, are increasingly becoming entangled in this web. Online platforms and mobile money have facilitated greater female participation, rising from negligible levels to 10-15% among urban youth, often driven by economic necessity rather than leisure. Single mothers and those supporting families turn to betting to bridge income gaps, where women typically earn 30% less than men. However, when men’s gambling losses drain household funds, women bear the brunt, often taking additional jobs, facing domestic strife, or having to withdraw their children from school. Female gamblers, though fewer in number, hide their habits under greater stigma, receiving less support for the stress it brings. Across all genders, families suffer. Rent goes unpaid, marriages fracture, and rural farmers neglect their fields in favor of betting shops, undermining food security.
Supporters of gambling argue that it boosts the economy by creating jobs in betting outlets and generating tax revenue for public services. However, this benefit is overshadowed by significant drawbacks. Much of the profit flows to foreign companies, widening inequality as money drains from the poorest to the wealthiest. Productivity also suffers, as hours spent gambling reduce the workforce’s effectiveness. Additionally, the rise in petty crime such as theft and fraud committed to fund bets places further strain on an already stretched police force, while unregulated online platforms take advantage of players with little oversight.
The government is aware of the issue. In 2019, President Museveni halted the issuance of new betting licenses and allowed existing ones to expire, citing concerns about addiction and social harm. While religious groups welcomed this decision, it ultimately backfired. Gamblers simply turned to offshore sites, escaping the reach of Ugandan law. Enforcement efforts have fallen behind, enabling the industry to thrive in the shadows, leaving regulators struggling to manage a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Uganda stands at a crossroads. The rise of gambling presents some short-term benefits but threatens long-term consequences for both men and women. A comprehensive strategy is needed, one that goes beyond superficial measures. Stricter regulations on online betting, public awareness campaigns addressing male bravado and female vulnerability, and addiction support tailored to both genders are crucial initial steps. Additionally, providing economic alternatives, such as job opportunities and skills training, can lessen the appeal of gambling, especially for youth and women who face wage gaps. Without decisive action, the nation risks losing a generation to a vice that promises much but delivers little, leaving men in debt, women in despair, and families in turmoil.
The stakes are high, not only for those who gamble. The future of Uganda hangs in the balance. Will we heed the warning signs, or allow this gamble to unfold to its bitter conclusion?