Senator Dr. Charles Muligande has called on the government to take stronger action against betting, saying the practice is leaving young people financially vulnerable and contributing to the breakdown of families.
Muligande made the call while Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva was addressing both chambers of Parliament on government efforts to strengthen Rwanda’s financial sector.
The senator said betting has become a barrier to household financial stability, with some people spending much of their income on gambling instead of meeting family needs, saving or investing.
“People are losing their financial security because of this problem, and in some cases it is also contributing to family breakdown. Just as the government took action against metal-based alcohol, we believe similar action should be taken against betting,” Muligande said.
He noted that even people with regular jobs can struggle to pay school fees and meet other family responsibilities after losing money through betting.
He urged the government to treat the issue as a matter requiring urgent attention, arguing that reducing betting-related financial losses would help households improve their livelihoods and build savings.
Prime Minister Nsengiyumva said the government has already taken action against some betting outlets, although the measures have not completely addressed the problem.
“We will look into this because the measures that have been taken have not completely eliminated the problem,” he said, adding that the government would consider what further steps could be taken.
Concerns over the impact of betting have also been raised in Parliament before. In April 2025, during discussions on a law introducing an income tax, some lawmakers argued that betting required stronger restrictions rather than simply being treated as a taxable business.
MP Jean Claude Ntezimana said at the time that the social impact of betting called for measures beyond taxation, warning that taxing the activity could be interpreted as government acceptance of it.
