A gambling controversy has left Uganda reeling in shame. This is after Ugandans working at Uganda’s Dubai consulate in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were allegedly caught operating an illegal casino at the consulate using gambling slot machines.
The scandal has now sparked an investigation into how the country’s consulate had been turned into an illegal gambling den at a foreign nation.
“The allegations are serious and touch on the integrity of individuals and the diplomatic relationship between Uganda and the United Arab Emirates,” Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo said. “We are taking this matter seriously and we shall get to the bottom of it.”
The Minister had been tasked to make a statement in Uganda’s parliament following reports that a consignment of slot machines had been shipped to the consulate under diplomatic cover from Russia.
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“Parliament pushed for this consulate to extend support and services to Ugandans who are thousands living in Dubai. Turning the consulate into a casino and a gambling house contravenes the laws of UAE, our laws and the international laws governing diplomatic premises,” Uganda’s shadow Foreign Affairs Minister had stated in parliament.
According to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uganda established diplomatic relations with Dubai in 2007, and opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi the same year. The UAE embassy was then opened in Kampala four years later in 2011.
Currently, gambling is illegal in UAE under the UAE’s Federal Penal Code Article 414 which is based on the Holy Quran. It forbids gambling practices, including operating a gambling venue or participating in unlawful games of chance.
Nonetheless, since September 2023, the UAE has been operating the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority which is tasked with overseeing commercial gaming and creating a regulatory framework for commercial gaming and lottery.
The Middle East is currently the largest destination for Uganda’s exports and as of May 2024, accounted for 34 per cent of Uganda’s total exports.
