A 20-year-old herdsman from Hima, Kasese District, has experienced a dramatic change in his fortunes after winning UGX 186 million in Uganda’s National Lottery. Enock Nayebale, who had recently purchased his first mobile phone in April, decided to try his luck in the lottery after hearing about it on the radio.
On August 3rd, 2024, Nayebale bought a UGX 1,000 LOTTO ticket via USSD code *278#. Though he didn’t match all six numbers to hit the jackpot, he successfully matched four, placing him in Division 5. This earned him a share of the UGX 932,340,000 prize pool, which was divided among five lucky winners.
Nayebale initially doubted the authenticity of the SMS notifying him of his win, fearing it might be a scam. His skepticism grew when his family expressed similar concerns. However, after receiving a follow-up call from ITHUBA Uganda’s Winner Services team and a personal visit from their Western Regional Manager, Nayebale realized his good fortune was real.
Traveling to Kampala for the first time, Nayebale was greeted warmly by the ITHUBA Uganda Winner Services team. They provided him with financial and trauma counseling to help him manage his sudden windfall. As the third claimant of the historic jackpot, Nayebale shared his joy with his mother, who is equally thrilled.
“I am deeply grateful and still in shock,” Nayebale said. “I plan to build a beautiful home for my mother and save a substantial portion of the prize money to secure my future.”
Nayebale joins the ranks of other recent jackpot winners, including Samuel Mbonimpa, a mason from Kyazanga in Lwengo District, and Zeverio Namisi, a factory loader from Kawempe. Both Mbonimpa and Namisi won UGX 186 million each with their respective bets of UGX 4,000 and UGX 9,000.
Michelle Van Trotsenburg, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at ITHUBA Uganda, congratulated Nayebale and encouraged other winners to claim their prizes. “As Ugandans celebrate Nayebale’s success, we urge the remaining two jackpot winners to come forward and collect their prizes at our head office. If you believe you’ve won any of our other games, visit a registered retailer or the location where you purchased your ticket for validation.”
For more details on Uganda’s National Lottery, upcoming draws, and how to play, visit www.nationallottery.go.ug or follow their social media channels. For inquiries, contact the toll-free Player Helpline at 0800 334433.
Note: Winnings are tax-free. Players must be 18 years or older. Please play responsibly.