As Uganda gears up for this year’s Labour Day celebrations, the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, has issued a candid assessment of the country's labour sector—commending the resilience of workers while acknowledging the deep-rooted challenges that continue to undermine their wellbeing and productivity.
Addressing journalists ahead of the national commemorations, Minister Amongi paid tribute to Ugandan workers across vital sectors such as agriculture, construction, education, and informal trade, calling them the “backbone of national development.”
She underscored the urgent need to improve labour protections, especially in an era increasingly shaped by globalisation, automation, and artificial intelligence.
Uganda’s labour force currently numbers over 25.1 million people—56.7% of the population—with more than 73% of Ugandans under the age of 30.
Amongi described this youthful demographic as a “major national asset,” but one that remains underutilised and underprotected.
She painted a sobering picture of a labour market where the majority of workers operate informally, without contracts, healthcare, or social security.
Uganda Bureau of Statistics data places unemployment at 12.3%, while underemployment is even more pervasive.
Amongi stressed that women are disproportionately affected, often confined to unpaid care work or self-employment without access to formal job protections.
“We must prioritise gender equity in employment and elevate the value of paid care work in our labour policies,” she said.
In response, the Minister laid out several government interventions aimed at reversing the current trends.
These include the creation of over two million jobs through the development of more than 20 new factories, and targeted investments in agriculture—especially in dairy, coffee, and tea production.
She also pointed to the Parish Development Model (PDM) as a flagship strategy for rural employment creation, which she said has channelled over Shs1 trillion into community-level economic activity.
Complementary programmes like the National Apprenticeship Scheme, the Juakali programme, and the GROW Project are being scaled up to foster self-employment and enterprise development, particularly among youth and women.
While Uganda’s legal framework guarantees a range of worker protections, Amongi acknowledged the gap between policy and practice.
She cited the casualisation of labour, lax enforcement of safety standards, and limited inspection capacity as key obstacles to decent work.
Looking ahead, the Minister promised reforms to make Uganda’s labour market more inclusive, dignified, and resilient.
The government, she said, is rolling out the Green Jobs Programme to promote employment that is environmentally sustainable and economically viable in the face of climate change.
She also called for stronger collaboration between government, employers, trade unions, and civil society to ensure that economic growth translates into fair and decent work for all.
Labour Day will be celebrated on May 1 at Nakale Grounds in Nakapiripirit District under the theme: Consolidating the Gains of the PDM for Increased Productivity and Inclusive Job Creation.