Chinese national remanded over unlicensed betting machines

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A 56-year-old Chinese national, Lin Haiyun, a resident of Opiyai A Cell in Eastern Division, Soroti city, has been charged and remanded by the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court in Makindye for operating betting machines without a licence.

According to the charge sheet presented before court, Haiyun was allegedly found making gaming or betting machines available for use by the public without a licence.

The offence is contrary to section 67(1)(c) of the Lotteries and Gaming Act, Cap 334.

Prosecution, led by Judith Nyamwiza, told court on January 23, 2026, that between May 2023 and January 2026, at Opiyai Cell in Eastern Division, Soroti city, Haiyun made gaming machines available for public use without a licence. The machines included three fish tables and 90 Chinese coin machines.

Haiyun pleaded not guilty to the charges as read to him by Chief Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu, with the assistance of an English interpreter, as the accused could not understand the language of the court.

He told court that the machines belonged to two of his friends who left them with him before travelling back.

The trial magistrate asked him where the friends had gone, but Haiyun declined to state their whereabouts.

Nyamwiza informed court that investigations into the matter were complete and requested that a hearing date be fixed.

Through his lawyer, Haiyun applied for bail, citing ill health. However, the request was rejected and deferred to the return date of February 10, 2026.

Haiyun broke down in tears as the interpreter asked him what he wished to tell court. The magistrate assured him that he would receive adequate medical care while on remand.

"I assure you, prison has one of the best services in this country. Everything will be fine," Kamasanyu told Haiyun as she remanded him.