By Nadhifah Muhammad |
The digital economy has re-shaped labour across the globe. Disruptive digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and robotics have become a big influence on various sectors including business, media, health, education, transportation and agriculture. These technologies have significantly impacted the world of work, upending many long-standing employment norms and practices.
Uganda is no exception to this shift, as many sectors embrace and navigate the digital tide. The thirst for more profits and the competition to dominate markets has led many businesses to innovate and craft more online services. The country’s vision to embrace technology is anchored in the Digital Transformation Roadmap which seeks to attain 90% household connectivity, 90% broadband coverage by geography, and 90% citizens accessing e-services online, by 2040.
As of 2024, approximately 18 digital labour and hybrid platforms were operating in Uganda, with a relatively even distribution of international and local operators. They included FLIP Africa, Market Garden App, SafeBoda, Uber, Bolt, Speshotaxi, Diva Taxi, Faras, Jumia, Glovo, Fiverr, Upwork, Le Gourmet Delicatessen, Uncle Bob, Kikuubo Online, Jiji and Whatsapp business. These platforms operate in sectors such as ride-hailing, delivery, freelance work, medical consultations, and e-commerce.
Workplace culture has also undergone a groundbreaking shift in recent years, from a temporary response during the Covid-19 pandemic to reshaping the corporate sector, organisational structures and employee interactions.
Similarly, the agricultural sector has adopted digital technologies such as the use of mobile applications to access information on crop management and market prices, and the use of digital financial services.
Despite this progress, there are persistent gaps in the digital revolution, including the digital divide laced with digital inequalities, gaps in labour regulatory frameworks, high internet costs, and low digital uptake among the public.
In this May 2025 brief, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) explores emerging digital trends and their influence on the future of work in Uganda. The brief offers recommendations for harnessing the digital dividend for both formal and informal businesses, including:
- Investing in digital literacy
- Upskilling the workforce across all sectors
- Advocacy for affordable internet connectivity
- Bridging the digital divide
- Enforcement of laws that support digitisation and recognition of the gig economy.
Access the full brief here.