Labour law and artificial intelligence in Uganda: evaluating the legal and institutional framework for the digital age.

Abstract

The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital Labor platforms in Uganda has created a profound regulatory gap, rendering existing statutory protections increasingly obsolete in the digital age. This paper evaluates the institutional and legal preparedness of Uganda’s regulatory framework, mainly the Employment Act of 2006 to address the concurrent deficiencies in worker protection and regulatory design. Utilizing a descriptive, analytical, and comparative methodology, this study examines primary Ugandan legal instruments alongside regional and international standards from Kenya and the United Kingdom. The research reveals that the existing legal framework remains largely grounded in traditional regulatory models, failing to account for gig workers, platform laborers, and the unique challenges of algorithmic management. Such as, opaque recruitment bias, automated termination, and unchecked workplace surveillance. This regulatory is gap is further aggravated by the fact that 95% of Uganda’s workforce operates within the informal sector, where AI-driven platforms expand without oversight. While recognizing AI’s potential for economic growth, this paper argues that urgent legal reform is required to protect vulnerable workers from arbitrary treatment and automation induced displacement. Ultimately, this study offers strategic recommendations to guide the Uganda Law Reform Commission and policymakers in reforming the country’s labour regime to meet emerging technological realities while safeguarding human dignity, equitable economic participation, and compliance with international labour standards.