The Legal Challenges of Regulating the Gig Economy in Uganda: A Critical Review of the Dynamics Between Worker Practices, Employer Strategies and Regulatory Approaches.

Abstract

The rise of the gig economy which is characterized by short-term, platform-mediated work which includes but not limited to ride-hailing, food delivery, online freelancing, transportation, domestic services, and micro-tasking has transformed Uganda’s labour market. Yet, existing laws on employment, social protection, digital platforms, consumer protection, and taxation were designed for traditional employment relationships and therefore struggle to regulate this new digital labour employment.
This review examines the regulatory gaps, institutional challenges, and enforcement limitations affecting Uganda’s ability to govern gig work. Using labour law theory, platform governance theory, and regulatory compliance frameworks, the study highlights contradictions in worker classification, weak social security coverage, limited tax enforcement, consumer risks, and gaps in data protection. Case studies from ride- hailing, digital freelancing, and delivery platforms illustrate persistent issues of misclassification, power asymmetries, algorithmic control, and contractual opacity. The review concludes by recommending a hybrid regulatory model incorporating clarifications in worker status, portable benefits, digital platform obligations, and strengthened enforcement systems to ensure fairness, innovation, and sustainable digital labour markets in Uganda.