After last month’s report that the High Court in Botswana had found in favour of a company operating slot machines in Lobatse, comes news that a casino company is similarly petitioning the High Court of Uganda. In Botswana the Court has told the Casino Control Board that its ‘irregular’ decision to close the business must be set aside. In Uganda, the company involved is seeking permission to be allowed to open.

Casino Grande (U) Ltd. wants the High Court to order the Government to licence it. The company cites extensive delays in the progress of the licence application and have filed suits against the Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary and the Attorney General. It also seeks financial compensation for economic losses sustained because of the delay. The lawyer representing the company reportedly informed the judge that the indefinite postponement of the outcome of the company’s application had denied it the right to engage in gainful business.

The casino Managing Director, Brutus Kagingo, stated that the licence was applied for in July 2003 under the Gaming and Pool Betting Act. Since then the company had made losses and spent nearly US$120,000 in renting premises. In November 2003 the company was told the licence was not being processed as there were ongoing investigations into Casino Grande. The following January an official communication from the Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary said that the application was under review.

The government’s main objection to the High Court application seems to be that it was made under an inappropriate law and should therefore be dismissed. ‘Mandamus’, forcing a public officer to perform his duties, should have been the cause for the suit. The Ugandan government is asking that the present suit be dismissed. (E-02.01.05)

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