By James Odomel

UGANDA Lottery Company Limited has invested $6m (sh11.2b) for a new hi-tech lottery game globally called online lotto.

“Uganda is second to South Africa in this kind of lotto. This new lottery is preferred to many governments who intend to realise revenues from lottery because it is consumer protective and long-term in nature,” the group’s assistant promotion executive, Siraj Semuwemba, said on Tuesday.

He was opening a training programme for 600 sales executives who will handle the retailing of lotto tickets for over 300 sales points.

He said the game, which is intended to make playing easier, is to be launched in Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe late this month.
He said the lotto game has been slow to move on in Africa due to the volume of investment it requires.
“Many international investors look on to Africa as too risky a venture and not worth any long-term investment,” he said. Semuwemba also said investment analysts suggest that the company requires a minimum of six years to recover original capital making profits.

“This venture is likely to boost investor confidence for Uganda globally if it succeeds. Ugandans too shall have the opportunity to participate in a modern, reliable and transparent betting game to try their luck and hit jackpots,”Semuwemba said.