Uganda’s illicit casino operation in its Dubai consulate

Lea Hogg August 5, 2024

Uganda’s foreign intelligence agency, the External Security Organization (ESO), is investigating an audacious scandal involving Ugandan diplomats in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The diplomats stand accused of setting up an illegal casino within the confines of the Ugandan Consulate in Dubai.

Diplomats or casino operators ?

The scandal came to light when President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda (photo above), reportedly discovered the illicit operation and ordered its immediate cessation. The ESO is now tasked with uncovering how privately procured gambling machines, shipped under diplomatic cover from Russia, found their way into the Consulate Building.

The Deputy Speaker of Uganda’s parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has publicly condemned the situation, declaring it a violation of domestic, UAE, and international law. Tayebwa has demanded answers from the government, expressing concern that the diplomats’ misconduct could strain bilateral relations between Uganda and the UAE, potentially affecting the 70,000 Ugandans residing and working in the UAE. The Ugandan parliament had initially advocated for the consulate to provide support and services to the large Ugandan community in Dubai. However, the transformation of the consulate into a gambling house contravenes UAE laws, Ugandan laws, and international laws governing diplomatic premises. The shipment of gambling machines, intercepted by Moscow customs officials before leaving Russia, was initially flagged due to mislabeling. The inventory listed items such as a big dining table, a small dining table, legs for tables, bar chairs, souvenirs, and decorative wheels. The shipment was allowed to proceed only after Uganda’s ambassador to Russia, Mozes Kizige, intervened. He assured customs officials that the items were for official embassy use and not for industrial or commercial purposes, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The consignment arrived in the UAE on 20 October, 2023, aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight from Moscow. It was scheduled to be stored at the Dubai Consulate for three months before being transferred to Uganda, where it was destined for a hotel owned by an unnamed government official. However, the machines remained in the consulate for at least six months, where they were operated by two Ugandan nationals assigned as special envoys with diplomatic credentials. The operation was halted when President Museveni reportedly learned of it and ordered the machines to be removed. This incident has sparked speculation about the future of gambling in the UAE, which has always been illegal. However, the recent approval of the country’s first lottery licence by the newly formed gaming regulator suggests that the Emirates could be on the path to legalizing casinos. This scandal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding diplomatic integrity and the potential consequences of its breach.