KAMPALA: Unpaid care work (UCW) is an essential yet often invisible part of life in Uganda. Defined as the non-remunerated domestic tasks and caregiving responsibilities carried out within households, UCW includes cooking, cleaning, and caring for children, the elderly, and the sick. While these activities sustain families and communities, they are disproportionately shouldered by women. Entrenched social and gender norms in Uganda reinforce the notion that this work is “naturally” a woman’s responsibility, which perpetuates inequalities and creates significant barriers to women’s participation in the labor force, education, and other opportunities for self-advancement.
The 2024 report, From Promises to Actions: Shifting Gender Norms and Public Perceptions about Unpaid Care Work in Workplaces and Families in Uganda published by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), seeks to address these deeply rooted disparities. It aims to provide baseline data on UCW’s impact and to measure the effectiveness of future interventions designed to redistribute caregiving roles more equitably. Through randomized controlled trials conducted across 16 parishes in Masindi, Mbarara, Mpigi, and Pallisa districts, the study assessed time allocation, education, economic participation, and societal attitudes toward UCW, involving nearly 1,500 households.
The findings paint a vivid picture of gender inequality in time use. On average, women spend seven hours daily on unpaid care work, compared to five hours for men. The disparity is even starker in rural areas, where women face greater burdens, often compounded by limited access to infrastructure like childcare services and labor-saving devices. Regional differences also highlight the uneven load: women in the Eastern and Central regions spend more time—7.5 and 7.1 hours respectively—on UCW compared to their counterparts in the Western region, who spend an average of 5.6 hours. This time poverty limits women’s ability to pursue paid work, education, or even leisure, reinforcing a cycle of economic dependence and social stagnation.
The types of tasks further reveal the imbalance. Women predominantly handle labor-intensive activities like cooking, cleaning, and caregiving, while men contribute by fetching water (48 percent) and washing clothes (36 percent), tasks that demand far less time and effort. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these disparities, with women’s UCW hours increasing by five hours daily during lockdowns, compared to a two-hour increase for men. School closures and limited access to healthcare shifted even more caregiving responsibilities onto women, illustrating how crises disproportionately affect them.
Education emerges as a crucial factor in challenging these inequalities. Both men and women with higher levels of education are more likely to reject rigid gender roles and adopt egalitarian attitudes toward UCW. This trend is particularly evident in urban areas, where educated individuals are more willing to share household responsibilities. However, systemic barriers persist; women with higher education are still underrepresented in formal employment and continue to face obstacles stemming from entrenched social norms. The economic findings are equally stark. While over 70 percent of Uganda’s population works in agriculture—often unpaid or low wage—women are disproportionately represented in this sector, limiting their financial independence. Moreover, many women classified as “economically active” are unpaid contributors to family businesses, masking the true extent of their labor and perpetuating cycles of financial dependence.
Social norms further entrench these disparities. Cultural pressures stigmatize men who engage in household chores, labeling them as “unmanly” or even “bewitched” in some communities. For example, in regions like Kampala and Kabale, men who help with domestic work are ridiculed, while in Kaabong, men cooking are called “loroomot,” meaning greedy. These stigmas discourage men from participating in UCW, leaving women to shoulder the bulk of the burden. Unfortunately, many women have internalized these norms, viewing unpaid care work as their duty and finding personal fulfillment in these roles, even at the expense of their economic and personal development. Children are also socialized into these patterns, with girls disproportionately tasked with caregiving and household chores, limiting their time for education and play compared to boys.
Despite these challenges, there are promising signs of change. Younger, more educated populations, particularly in urban areas, are beginning to adopt more progressive attitudes toward UCW. Initiatives such as community dialogues and media campaigns are gradually raising awareness about the importance of shared responsibilities within households. However, structural issues such as inadequate access to labor-saving infrastructure in rural areas and the lack of a comprehensive UCW policy continue to hinder progress. Urban centers benefit from facilities like childcare services, but rural areas remain underserved, exacerbating inequalities. While some elements of UCW are addressed in broader policies like the National Gender Policy and the National Child Labour Policy, Uganda lacks a dedicated framework to tackle these issues comprehensively.
The report highlights the potential of interventions like the POWER model to shift norms and reduce inequalities. By integrating financial literacy training, community dialogues, and policy advocacy, the POWER model seeks to redistribute UCW more equitably, engage men as allies in challenging negative norms, and enhance women’s economic participation. The model’s theory of change targets households, communities, and institutions to create sustainable shifts in attitudes and behaviors. Success will depend on addressing infrastructure gaps and ensuring interventions are effectively implemented.
Addressing unpaid care work is not just a matter of fairness; it is a crucial step toward achieving gender equality and unlocking Uganda’s economic potential. Policymakers must prioritize interventions that redistribute caregiving responsibilities, invest in infrastructure, and challenge harmful social norms. Community leaders and organizations can play a key role in shifting attitudes, while partnerships with international agencies can provide the financial and technical support needed to implement sustainable solutions. By fostering an environment where care work is valued and shared, Uganda can pave the way for a more equitable and prosperous future.
