The informal sector represents a large and growing share of the economy and the labor force in Uganda. The Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) Report of 2009/10 indicates that there were a total of 1.8 million informal businesses. Extending social security to informal sector workers remains a challenge due to a variety of reasons. In the informal economy jobs and businesses are largely not registered or protected by the State. Workers in this sector do not enjoy any social benefits and are inherently vulnerable and insecure. They are excluded from any social safety nets and lack the legal protection accorded by formal labor contracts.
The APSP and the Uganda Platform for Social protection reviewed available literature on the informal economy sector in Uganda for purposes of identifying policy gaps in the extension of social protection to the informal economy.
In 2019, through the Rights-based social protection project, APSP held a stakeholder forum for informal economy workers. The forum was held to identify gaps in social protection for informal workers, particularly in health insurance. A policy brief was developed and the Uganda Platform for Social Protection continues to hold advocacy forums to enhance legal provisions for informal sector workers.